Charges in the February death of Adan Manzano, a Telemundo TV sports reporter in the New Orleans area to cover the Super Bowl, have been upgraded to second-degree murder, the Kenner (Louisiana) Police Department announced today.
Danette Colbert, 48, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of the 27-year-old Kansas City-based reporter, who was found dead in his Kenner hotel room on Wednesday, February 5 during Super Bowl Week.
Within days of his death, Kenner police had arrested Colbert, a local resident, after she allegedly used Manzano’s credit card at several New Orleans stores.
According to police, security video from Manzano’s hotel showed Colbert and Manzano entering his room early in the morning of February 5, and Colbert leaving alone shortly thereafter.
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At the time of her initial arrest, Kenner police said Colbert had an arrest record that includes allegations of drugging other men, theft of currency, fraudulent use of credit and debit cards, and other financial crimes.
Today’s upgraded charges follow the completion of an autopsy and toxicology reports that indicate Xanax was found in Manzano’s body. According to police, Manzano did not have a prescription for the drug, and police later recovered Xanax from Colbert’s residence.
Kenner authorities said Manzano’s blood alcohol content was .232, nearly three times the legal limit, and that his toxicology results indicate a “not insignificant amount” of Xanax. At the Kenner police press conference today, which aired live on Facebook, law enforcement officials said that Manzano died from the combined toxic effects of Xanax and alcohol in addition to “positional asphyxia” – Manzano was found facedown in a pillow on a bed.
Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, the Jefferson Parish coroner, said during the press conference that Manzano’s specific manner of death remains “undetermined,” as opposed to either accidental, which would be typical in an overdose, or a homicide.
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said the investigation still has many “dots to connect.”
Conley also announced today that an alleged accomplice has been arrested in Florida. Ricky White has been charged on the same property counts as Colbert, but not, as of yet, the more serious charges.
White was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Hollywood, Florida, last week and is awaiting extradition.
At the time of Manzano’s death, Colbert, according to the police, was serving a 10-year suspended sentence in connection with the 2021 drugging and robbery of another man.
While Conley would not provide details on where the current investigation is now headed, he said, “We don’t want Ms. Colbert to see the light of day again.”
The post Charges In Super Bowl Week Death Of Telemundo TV Reporter Adan Manzano Upgraded To Murder; Suspect’s Alleged Accomplice Arrested appeared first on Deadline.
