Ex-NBA G League Player Admits to Kidnapping and Murder of Female Victim, Las Vegas Police Report
Former NBA G League player, Chance Comanche, shockingly admits to the gruesome kidnapping and murder of a woman in Las Vegas alongside his ex-girlfriend This horrifying revelation has sent shockwaves through the basketball community
Former NBA G League player Chance Comanche admitted to the police that he and his ex-girlfriend, Sakari Harnden, were responsible for kidnapping and killing a woman from Washington state while in Las Vegas earlier this month. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced that Comanche, 27, and Harnden, 19, were originally arrested for the kidnapping of Harnden's friend, Marayna Rodgers. However, after Rodgers' remains were found, the police decided to pursue murder charges against both Comanche and Harnden.
A police arrest warrant reveals that Comanche and Harnden are facing murder charges in the case of Rodgers' death. On December 15, The Kings, an affiliate of the Sacramento Kings, made an announcement that Comanche has been released from the team.
Sakari Harnden, accused of murder in relation to the disappearance of a woman whose remains were discovered in Henderson, attends a status check at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The warrant, filed in Clark County District Court, alleges that the pair enticed the victim to a secluded location by posing as prostitutes. They then proceeded to strangle Rodgers in Harden's vehicle before disposing of her body in a ditch and hiding it under rocks, as stated in a court document reviewed by CNN. After confessing, Comanche led detectives to where Rodgers' body had been buried, according to the police.
Comanche's attorney, Michael Goldstein, stated that he is unable to provide any comments on the content or context of statements made to law enforcement. "We will address these matters when we appear in court and have access to a complete transcript or recording, if available," Goldstein told CNN on Thursday.
Attorneys representing Harnden were approached by CNN for comment.
According to the arrest warrant, police stated, "Sakari and Chance devised a plan to entice Marayna away from her friends in order to kill her. When they were unable to find someone to assist with the murder, Chance and Sakari opted to carry out the murder themselves."
Rodgers was reported missing on December 7, two days after she was last seen with friends and had arranged to meet with Harnden and Comanche, according to police.
Chance Comanche is charged with murder in the death of Marayna Rodgers, according to a court docket reviewed by CNN.
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Following the arrests, investigators received information that ultimately led them to discover Rodgers' remains in a desert area near Henderson, approximately 20 miles southeast of Las Vegas, as per police reports.
The warrant indicated that Comanche had sent a text to his ex-girlfriend, stating, "I can snap her neck or just strangle the bitch." In a separate message, he wrote, "If you get a nice little thick piece of rope or something sturdy I can do it from the back seat. Like how killers do it in the movies."
Comanche was arrested by the FBI in Sacramento, California while practicing at the Stockton Kings facility. He waived extradition in a Sacramento court on Tuesday and now Las Vegas officials have 30 days to bring him back to Nevada to face charges.
Harnden appeared in court on Wednesday and is scheduled to return for arraignment in February. She also appeared in court on Sunday, where her bond was set at $500,000, according to court records.
CNNs Melissa Alonso and Jessica Flynn contributed to this report.
