LAS VEGAS — Former Stockton Kings player Chance Comanche, accused of murdering a woman who was found near Las Vegas in December, will not face the death penalty in his upcoming trial.
Comanche pleaded not guilty in the kidnapping and murder case this week. He and his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend, Sakari Harnden, are facing murder and kidnapping charges in the killing of Washington woman Marayna Rodgers.
"We're going to deal with this in the courts. We're going to be professional about it and we're going to deal with it in the courts,” said attorney Michael A. Goldstein.
Law enforcement officials in Las Vegas say Rodgers was out with friends Dec. 5 and planned to meet her friend, Harnden and her boyfriend at the time, Comanche.
Rodgers was reported missing two days later and investigators arrested Harnden and Comanche on suspicion of kidnapping.
Harnden was arrested Dec. 13, 2023 on suspicion of kidnapping while Comanche was arrested Dec. 14, 2023.
Rodgers’ remains were found in a Nevada desert after the arrests and Comanche was let go from the Sacramento Kings G-League affiliate the Stockton Kings.
Surveillance video shown in court showed Harnden and Rodgers going into a liquor store at 1 a.m. Dec. 6, 2023, hours before the alleged murder. Four hours later, Harnden and Comanche were seen going into a Winco, which a Las Vegas Metro detective testified was shortly after Rodgers death.
Court documents reveal Comanche told investigators the killing was over Harnden’s Rolex watch which Rodgers wanted. He said Rodgers threatened to shoot Harnden if the watch was not given over.
A police report says Comanche confessed to strangling a woman in Las Vegas with Harnden’s help.
Both Comanche and Harnden are in the Clark County Detention Center awaiting their trial's start date. They appear back in court Wednesday.
