LAS VEGAS, NV - A former NBA G League player is facing an open murder charge after allegedly taking part in a murder-for-hire plot along with his ex-girlfriend, Sakari Harnden.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) stated that 27-year-old Chance Comanche and Harnden were suspected of killing Marayna Rodgers, 23, who had been reported missing on December 7th. During hearing that took place in Sacramento, California, Comanche waived his right to challenge the extradition back to Las Vegas.
Comanche was arrested on December 15th in Sacramento and Harnden was arrested in Las Vegas two days prior. Police said that Rodgers' body was found following Comanche's arrest.
According to a warrant reviewed by PEOPLE, a friend of Rodgers reported her missing and told police that her friend had gone to meet Harnden, a fellow sex worker. The friend told police that she was concerned, saying Harnden's associates were known "to be violent."
The warrant also states that after his arrest, Comanche admitted to killing Rodgers with Harnden after Harden told him she had been "having problems" with Rodgers. Comanche allegedly told police he and Harnden used to date, but that they had since broken up and kept in touch.
Comanche allegedly told police that after trying and failing to hire someone else to kill Rodgers, he and Harnden devised a plan to lure Rodgers from her friends by promising to pay her $1,000 for escort services. The warrant states that Harnden allegedly told Rodgers that Comanche was into "kinky sex" and that he wanted to zip tie her hands, to which she consented.
After he zip tied her hands, Comanche said that he began strangling Rodgers with an HDMI cord, but stopped after about 10 seconds. However, Harnden continued to strangle her. Rodgers eventually stopped breathing. Comanche said that he and Harnden then dumped the woman's body in a ditch before returning to the hotel where his team was staying.
Both were initially charged with kidnapping, but those charges were later upgraded to murder. LVMPD issued a statement on December 17th, saying, in part, "Based on information obtained after the arrest of Harnden and Comanche, detectives were able to recover human remains in a desert area in Henderson, Nevada. The remains, were later identified by the Clark County Coroner to be of Marayna Rodgers."
They added, "Detectives determined that Harnden and Comanche were responsible for the murder of Rodgers. The charges for both individuals will be amended to open murder through coordination with the Clark County District Attorney's Office."
Harnden remains in custody. Her next court date is February 8th. It is unclear at this time if she has entered into a plea agreement. Comanche remains in custody in Sacramento as he awaits extradition to Nevada.
A third, as of yet unidentified party also became involved in a text conversation with Comanche and Harnden, telling them that s/he was "trynna get a [ghost gun]" for the murder. Police have not released further information on that third person.
On December 15th, the same day he was arrested, the Sacramento Kings announced the release of Comanche. On December 5th, the same day Rodgers allegedly met Comanche, the Stockton Kings played a game in Henderson, Nevada. Comanche went undrafted in 2017 before playing in the G League and in Turkey. He made one NBA appearance in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers in April 2023.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) stated that 27-year-old Chance Comanche and Harnden were suspected of killing Marayna Rodgers, 23, who had been reported missing on December 7th. During hearing that took place in Sacramento, California, Comanche waived his right to challenge the extradition back to Las Vegas.
Comanche was arrested on December 15th in Sacramento and Harnden was arrested in Las Vegas two days prior. Police said that Rodgers' body was found following Comanche's arrest.
According to a warrant reviewed by PEOPLE, a friend of Rodgers reported her missing and told police that her friend had gone to meet Harnden, a fellow sex worker. The friend told police that she was concerned, saying Harnden's associates were known "to be violent."
The warrant also states that after his arrest, Comanche admitted to killing Rodgers with Harnden after Harden told him she had been "having problems" with Rodgers. Comanche allegedly told police he and Harnden used to date, but that they had since broken up and kept in touch.
Comanche allegedly told police that after trying and failing to hire someone else to kill Rodgers, he and Harnden devised a plan to lure Rodgers from her friends by promising to pay her $1,000 for escort services. The warrant states that Harnden allegedly told Rodgers that Comanche was into "kinky sex" and that he wanted to zip tie her hands, to which she consented.
After he zip tied her hands, Comanche said that he began strangling Rodgers with an HDMI cord, but stopped after about 10 seconds. However, Harnden continued to strangle her. Rodgers eventually stopped breathing. Comanche said that he and Harnden then dumped the woman's body in a ditch before returning to the hotel where his team was staying.
Both were initially charged with kidnapping, but those charges were later upgraded to murder. LVMPD issued a statement on December 17th, saying, in part, "Based on information obtained after the arrest of Harnden and Comanche, detectives were able to recover human remains in a desert area in Henderson, Nevada. The remains, were later identified by the Clark County Coroner to be of Marayna Rodgers."
They added, "Detectives determined that Harnden and Comanche were responsible for the murder of Rodgers. The charges for both individuals will be amended to open murder through coordination with the Clark County District Attorney's Office."
Harnden remains in custody. Her next court date is February 8th. It is unclear at this time if she has entered into a plea agreement. Comanche remains in custody in Sacramento as he awaits extradition to Nevada.
A third, as of yet unidentified party also became involved in a text conversation with Comanche and Harnden, telling them that s/he was "trynna get a [ghost gun]" for the murder. Police have not released further information on that third person.
On December 15th, the same day he was arrested, the Sacramento Kings announced the release of Comanche. On December 5th, the same day Rodgers allegedly met Comanche, the Stockton Kings played a game in Henderson, Nevada. Comanche went undrafted in 2017 before playing in the G League and in Turkey. He made one NBA appearance in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers in April 2023.
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