Las Vegas Tourist Allegedly Kidnapped, Murdered By Basketball Player, Girlfriend
Posted on: December 17, 2023, 07:32h.
Last updated on: December 17, 2023, 07:34h.
A pro basketball player and his girlfriend allegedly killed a 23-year-old woman whose body was found this month in Henderson, Nev., authorities revealed on Sunday.
The basketball player, Chance Comanche, 27, and the girlfriend, Sakari Harnden, 19, are to be charged with open murder for the homicide, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
Comanche played for NBA G-league team, the Stockton Kings, until he was released by the organization when he was booked by cops.
Body Found in Desert
The victim, Marayna Rodgers, 23, initially was reported missing. Then, police found her remains in the desert. Her identity was confirmed by the Clark County coroner’s office.
The Washington State resident was visiting Las Vegas with friends. She was last seen alive on Dec. 6 and was spotted entering a car with Harnden.
She was reported missing on Dec. 7. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers suspected foul play in her disappearance.
An investigation was launched. Details on the inquiry weren’t released by the LVMPD, but officers did say a “murder plan” was involved in her kidnapping and homicide.
A California FBI Criminal Apprehension Team apprehended Comanche on Friday. He was placed in California’s Sacramento County Jail and initially booked for kidnapping, KLAS reported. No bail was set.
He’s scheduled to appear in court in California on Tuesday. A request will be made to extradite him to Nevada to stand trial.
Comanche was in Las Vegas earlier this month when the Kings played G-league rival, the Ignites, at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson on Dec. 5.
Harnden initially was charged with first-degree kidnapping on last Wednesday. She was booked at Clark County Detention Center, where she remains as of Sunday. Her bail was set at $500K on Thursday.
Harnden was believed to be friends with Rodgers.
Rodgers worked as a medical assistant in Washington State.
It’s unclear how Rodgers was killed and how she wound up in Henderson.
In a different case, Harnden faces a theft charge after she allegedly stole a Rolex watch.
Comanche’s Basketball Career
Comanche was a 6′-10” center for the Kings team for two seasons, according to the New York Post.
He played basketball earlier for the University of Arizona, where he appeared in 60 games. Before that, he played basketball at California’s Beverly Hills High School.
The Kings didn’t release comments on Comanche’s arrest.
Source: casino.org
