Chance Comanche: Ex-NBA player, girlfriend arrested for kidnapping and murder of missing Washington woman
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: The FBI in Sacramento, California, apprehended a former G-League player, Chance Comanche in connection with the disappearance of a 23-year-old medical assistant from Washington state.
This came two days after Comanche's girlfriend Sakari Harnden was arrested by police in Las Vegas on December 13 in relation to the disappearance, per CBS Sports.
Shortly after his arrest on December 15, 27-year-old Chance Comanche was waived by the Sacramento Kings' developmental affiliate, the Stockton Kings.
Detectives discovered human remains
The evening before Marayna Rodgers was last seen and reported missing, Comanche played a G-League game in Henderson, Nevada, which is fifteen miles from Las Vegas.
On December 6, while visiting Las Vegas with friends, Rodgers disappeared after getting into a car with her 19-year-old friend Sakari Harnden, per the New York Post.
Detectives were able to locate human remains in a desert area in Henderson, Nevada, later identified as Rodgers, based on information they received following the arrests of Comanche and Harnden, according to a press release from the police.
Police claim that it was established that Harnden and Commanche were accountable for Rodgers' death and that they will both face charges of open murder, according to a statement by the LVMPD.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the disappearance and killing of a 23-year-old female after executing murder plan.
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) December 17, 2023
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Charges against Chance Comanche's girlfriend
Harnden, Comanche's girlfriend, was also charged with first-degree kidnapping when she was arrested on December 13, in Las Vegas and taken into the downtown Las Vegas Jail, according to court documents.
Harnden was charged with "detaining Rogers against her will and without her consent for the purpose of killing her and/or inflicting bodily harm," according to 8 News Now.
In addition, Harnden was detained on suspicion of stealing a Rolex in a different case. Less than twenty-four hours after Rodgers disappeared, Comanche was in Portland, Oregon for the Kings' game against the Rip City Remix on December 7. It is not known how long he stayed in Las Vegas.
Chance Comanche taken into custody
Comanche was a player for the Stockton Kings in their Henderson matchup with the G-League Ignite. On suspicion of kidnapping, Comanche was taken into custody by the California FBI Criminal Apprehension Team in Sacramento on Friday.
He is currently awaiting extradition to Nevada. According to police, the charges will be "amended to open murder" in cooperation with the district attorney's office for Clark County.
Comanche is being held without being allowed to leave the Sacramento County Jail.
The Sacramento Kings of the NBA waived Comanche on October 12 after he signed with them on October 2. After that, he was a player for the Stockton Kings, a G-League affiliate.
The 27-year-old center was waived by the Stockton Kings on Friday. The 6-foot 11-inch Comanche, who later played for the University of Arizona, was a standout center for Beverly Hills High School.
