A Kansas City sports reporter's trip to cover the Super Bowl in New Orleans ended in tragedy when he was discovered dead in his hotel room.
According to NBC News, Danette Colbert, a Louisiana resident with a history of drugging men and committing theft, was arrested following the death of 27-year-old Telemundo Kansas City reporter Adan Manzano at a Comfort Suites hotel in Kenner.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning when hotel security cameras captured Colbert entering Manzano's room at 4:35 a.m.
Following the discovery of Manzano's body, investigators found his credit card missing from the hotel room. Colbert was later discovered using the deceased reporter's credit card at multiple retail locations throughout the New Orleans area.
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley revealed that Colbert's criminal history includes multiple instances of similar offenses.
Her past arrests involve allegations of drugging men and subsequent financial crimes, including credit card fraud and theft. A notable case from 2022 in Nevada involved charges related to introducing foreign substances to victims.
Law enforcement officials are currently investigating the exact cause of Manzano's death. While property crimes have been filed against Colbert, including fraud and theft-related charges, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges pending the coroner's findings.
Chief Conley stated:
You asked if this was a homicide, I don't know where it's going to end up. We're going to let the evidence lead us to the end result and not speculate.
The Kenner Police Department has issued a public call for information regarding Colbert's activities. They are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who may recognize her or have knowledge of similar incidents involving the suspect. This approach suggests investigators believe there could be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
Local law enforcement has detailed the current charges against Colbert, which include simple robbery, access device fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud, and computer fraud. The investigation remains active as authorities await the coroner's report to determine if additional charges are warranted.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Manzano's death have particularly resonated within the community due to his recent personal loss. Just months before his death, his wife Ashleigh Boyd, a 24-year-old second-grade teacher with Topeka Public Schools, was killed in a car crash in Topeka. Their young daughter, who survived the crash, now faces the loss of both parents.
The suspect now faces multiple charges related to property crimes and fraud while authorities await conclusive findings from the coroner's office. Danette Colbert, a Slidell resident, remains in custody as investigators piece together the events leading to Manzano's death in the Kenner hotel room.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the victim's role as a Super Bowl correspondent for Telemundo Kansas City and the suspect's history of similar offenses across multiple jurisdictions.
