The Kansas City sports reporter may have been drugged by a Louisiana woman known as a “career criminal” before she died near New Orleans while covering the Super Bowl 59, police said.
Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old sports reporter and Telemundo Kansas City anchor, passed away last week while being assigned to cover the Super Bowls for both Spanish Network and TICO Sports. His body was found in a hotel room Wednesday in a comfort suite near New Orleans.
A few days after Manzano’s death was announced by Telemund Kansas City, Kenner police announced they had arrested 48-year-old Danette Colbert on Thursday night. Police said Colbert was charged with property crimes as of Monday, including fraud and theft-related crimes, but a toxicology report and further investigation by forensic experts is pending. He said there may be a claim scheduled.
The toxicology report said “it could take weeks for it to become available,” but police said on Monday that evidence available in the case was that Manzano took the drug before he died. He said it led to an investigation into the possibility. Colbert also has an arrest history, including allegations that include drugs, including subsequent robbing people, police said in a news release.
Below is what Kenner Police said about the incident Monday and where their investigation is currently located.
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Kenner police contacted the suspected victim of Dunnett Colbert.
Since Colbert’s arrest, Kenner police have been contacted by people who claim to be her victim, who have reported a suspicious death under similar circumstances. All of these complaints will be further investigated by appropriate jurisdictions, police added.
Colbert is still in custody at Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, where he is awaiting criminal proceedings, police said. Police also seized multiple electronic devices that have been forensically tested to determine whether they contain digital evidence related to Manzano’s death, according to the department.
Investigators have identified other locations where Colbert and Mazano were seen together in New Orleans and are reviewing security footage in those areas, police said. Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said at a press conference Friday that police led him to Colbert after leaving Manzano’s hotel room early Wednesday morning and getting caught up in cameras.
More innocent evidence was found when investigators discovered Manzano’s cell phone and credit card while searching Colbert’s home. The credit cards were fraudulently used in “several stores in the New Orleans area,” the chief added.
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Police Chief Keith Conley: “She’s definitely a career criminal.”
Colbert’s criminal history includes “two examples of her taking drugs on the victim and stealing an access device and a card,” Conley said. Both incidents occurred in Las Vegas on July 9th and January 17th in 2022 when Colbert met a man at a casino, was drugged or assaulted, and received more than $50,000 in cash and thousands of dollars worth of casino chips. It is said that he stole it. Expensive gems, credit cards or electronics, reported by the Las Vegas Review Journal.
“She plays a confident game. She’s definitely a career criminal,” the chief said. “All of her crimes are against people, including fraudulent access devices (such as illegal use of credit or debit cards), simple robbery, theft, or of its nature.”
Daniel Lipman, the lawyer representing Colbert, was later rejected because the victim didn’t want to testify in court. He told USA Today he had not commented on the current allegations against Colbert.
All charges against Colbert after being charged with two counts of drug administration to assist in two counts of felony theft are clear as to why they didn’t move forward The case was withdrawn in October 2022 without any reason, reported Times-Picayune.
Danette Colbert pleaded guilty to similar crimes in 2019, 2016 and 2015.
Colbert has previously pleaded guilty to similar crimes, including 2019, 2016 and 2015. Each case involved her stealing a credit card or cash, and all three cases were sentenced to probation or suspended for less than 10 years. According to Times-Picayune.
“She is suspended very often in French districts and is known for these fraud schemes,” Conley said. “This makes it clear that there are people out there who prey on others, bring them confidence and sacrifice them. That’s something people really need to know.”
Adan Mazano remembered as a “new star” and a “devoted father.”
Kansas City Telemundo called Manzano “a true professional and upstart that exemplified the excellence of his work.” This was Manzano’s third straight season covering the TV station’s Super Bowl.
“We will deeply miss Adan and his passion for sports and the contribution he has made to the community,” the TV station said. “Our thoughts and sincere misery of dol’s meanness comes to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Manzano was survived by his young daughter. His wife, Ashley Lean Boyd Manzano, was killed in a car accident on April 11, 2024 in Topeka, Kansas.
In a statement from Tico Sports, the media company stated, “Adan was a dedicated father of his young daughter, kind colleague and loyal friends. He was greatly overlooked by our Tico family and our hearts And you’ll live in memories.”
GofundMe was created by the Manzano family and has so far raised over $3,500.
“Adan was a kind, loving, hardworking man who exposed the lives of many with his warmth and generosity,” says Gofundme. “He was a dedicated sports reporter and a true fanatic of the heart. His passion for sports and storytelling connected the people of Kansas City all the way to his home in Mexico. He had such a heartfelt presence. Love for sports.”
Jonathan Limehouse covers USA Today’s broken and trending news. Contact him at [email protected].