Marayana Rodgers, a 23-year-old medical assistant from Lakewood, Washington, met a tragic end in Las Vegas after being set up by a professional basketball player and his girlfriend.
Law enforcement unraveled the secrets of her double life as a prostitute after discovering her lifeless body in a remote area of Nevada last winter.
Rodgers, described as vibrant and dedicated to her family and pets, was reported missing on Dec. 6, 2023, shortly after her arrival in Las Vegas to meet a friend.
In early December, Rodgers found herself entangled in a dispute with 19-year-old Sakari Harnden, who was involved in the sex trade alongside Rodgers. The altercation reportedly revolved around a Rolex watch, escalating into threats.
Three days later, on Dec. 4, tensions escalated further when Harnden allegedly implicated Rodgers’ boyfriend in a double murder in California, leading to his arrest.
Subsequently, Harnden enlisted her boyfriend, 27-year-old Chance Comanche, a professional basketball player for the Stockton Kings, in a plot to eliminate Rodgers.
Allegedly, Harnden and Comanche attempted to hire a hitman but ultimately devised a sinister plan to deceive Rodgers. They convinced her to join them under the guise of a date with a client interested in “kinky sex.”
Security footage captured Rodgers accompanying Harnden into a liquor store, seemingly unaware of the impending danger.
The trio then drove to a secluded area, where Rodgers was restrained and ultimately murdered. Harnden allegedly strangled her while Comanche used an HDMI cord.
Following the homicide, Comanche and Harnden were captured on surveillance cameras shopping together, wearing the same clothes from the night of the murder.
Harnden was arrested on December 13, facing charges of felony first-degree kidnapping and felony theft.
Two days later, Comanche confessed to law enforcement, leading them to Rodgers’ body, which was discovered on Dec. 15 in Henderson, Nevada.
Comanche was subsequently released from the Stockton Kings, and both he and Harnden now face multiple charges, including murder with the use of a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit murder.
Prosecutors are considering the death penalty in their case.
