Louisiana Woman Charged with Murder in Super Bowl Reporter's Death

Louisiana woman Danette Colbert, 48, is facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Adan Manzano, a Super Bowl reporter who was found dead in his hotel room near New Orleans last month.

Colbert was initially arrested on February 7th and charged with bank fraud, computer fraud, robbery, illegal transmission of monetary funds, and purse snatching. Authorities say she used Manzano's credit card at a local store and allegedly possessed his cell phone.

A Deadly Encounter

Manzano, a 27-year-old reporter for Telemundo based in Kansas City, was last seen entering his hotel room with Colbert on February 5th. His body was discovered later that day in Kenner, west of New Orleans.

Preliminary toxicology reports revealed that Manzano had Alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug commonly known as Xanax, in his system at the time of his death. Investigators stated that Manzano did not have a prescription for the drug.

A Pattern of Alleged Crimes

Colbert's arrest in connection with Manzano's death is not her first encounter with the law. Court records show she has faced charges in at least five fraud and theft cases across two states, some involving allegations of drugging victims.

Since her arrest in Manzano's case, authorities have received numerous inquiries from individuals who believe they or their loved ones may have been victimized by Colbert. These reports include instances of alleged drugging, theft, and financial exploitation.

Unraveling the Allegations

One such case involves a man who claims to have been drugged by Colbert while at a French Quarter bar. He alleges that after becoming disoriented, he was taken into a waiting SUV by Colbert. Upon waking up in a nearby home hours later, he discovered his phone and $80,000 from his cryptocurrency account were missing.

Colbert was convicted in this case and sentenced to five years' probation, a sentence recently criticized by the Louisiana Attorney General due to her prior criminal history. Colbert has also pleaded guilty in two other Louisiana cases, serving probation in one and prison time in another. Charges in two Las Vegas cases were dropped when the victims declined to testify.

Investigating Further Connections

Authorities are actively investigating potential links between Colbert and other unsolved cases. This includes a French Quarter Uber scam where two men allege their phones and thousands of dollars linked to their accounts were stolen. They reported the incidents to the New Orleans Police Department in 2021, but no arrests have been made.

Furthermore, authorities suspect Colbert may have played a role in the December 15th death of John Jenkins, 55, who was found unresponsive in a New Orleans hotel. While Jenkins' death was ruled accidental and attributed to cocaine and ethanol toxicity, investigators believe Colbert may have been involved.

Ongoing Investigation

The Louisiana State Police and New Orleans police are assisting in the investigation, but they are unable to provide further details at this time. The case remains open as authorities continue to gather evidence and pursue all leads related to Danette Colbert's alleged crimes.

This ongoing investigation highlights the complexities of criminal cases and the importance of thorough examination to ensure justice is served.