LAS VEGAS, NV – In a shocking turn of events, a professional basketball player, formerly associated with the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate, and his girlfriend have been arrested in connection with a murder case that has sent ripples through the sports community. The case revolves around the tragic death of a 23-year-old woman whose body was found near Las Vegas earlier this month.
The suspects, 27-year-old Chance Comanche and 19-year-old Sakari Harnden, are facing severe charges of murder and kidnapping. The victim, identified as Marayna Rodgers, was reported missing on December 7. Her remains were later discovered in Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Police Department, spearheading the investigation, announced the arrests on Sunday.
Details about the cause of death and the motive behind this heinous crime have not been disclosed by the authorities. However, it was clear from the onset that foul play was suspected. The diligent efforts of the investigators led to the gathering of substantial evidence, culminating in the arrests of Harnden and Comanche.
The police have partially unraveled the connection between the suspects and the victim. Rodgers, who worked as a medical assistant and was originally from Washington state, had an acquaintance in Harnden. On December 5, Rodgers was in Las Vegas, where she had planned to meet Harnden. It was during this meeting that Harnden introduced Comanche to Rodgers.
Harnden was taken into custody in Las Vegas last Wednesday and is currently being held without bail. Attempts to reach Marissa Pensabene, a Clark County Public Defender, for a comment on Harnden’s behalf were unsuccessful as of Monday.
Comanche’s arrest came two days later, on Friday, by the FBI in Sacramento, California. He is also being held without bond and is awaiting extradition to Nevada. He was scheduled to appear in a Sacramento court this past Tuesday. As of the latest updates, no legal representation for Comanche has been listed in court records.
The Clark County, Nevada, prosecutor’s office still needs to release further details about the case. Public defenders’ offices in Las Vegas and Sacramento have yet to respond to inquiries regarding whether they will be representing Comanche.
Before this incident, Comanche’s career in basketball was on a promising trajectory. He played as a power forward and center for the Stockton Kings, the G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. During his time with the team, he averaged 14 points and seven rebounds over 13 games. His basketball journey began at the University of Arizona, where he played from 2015 to 2017 before declaring for the NBA draft. Although he went undrafted, Comanche signed a free-agent contract with the Portland Trail Blazers in April of the previous year, playing only one game. Sacramento signed him in October, but he was waived after just ten days, leading him to join the Stockton Kings.
This case has cast a shadow over Comanche’s athletic career. It has brought a grim spotlight to the world of professional basketball, reminding us that athletes are not immune to being implicated in serious criminal activities. As the legal process unfolds, the sports community and the public await further developments in this disturbing case.