Police Arrest Woman in Connection with Telemundo Reporter’s Death in New Orleans
Police are investigating the death of Adan Manzano, a Telemundo Kansas City reporter found dead in his hotel room near New Orleans while covering the Super Bowl. Authorities announced an arrest in the case on Friday, linking a woman to fraudulent use of his credit card.
Telemundo Reporter Found Dead in Hotel Room
Manzano, 27, an anchor and reporter for Telemundo Kansas City, was discovered Wednesday at his hotel in Kenner, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, according to police.
Authorities said Danette Colbert, 48, was seen on security footage entering Manzano’s hotel room at 5 a.m. and leaving alone an hour later. Police arrested Colbert on Thursday evening and charged her with multiple felonies, including fraud and theft, Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick confirmed.
Suspect Used Manzano’s Credit Card, Police Say
Investigators tracked Manzano’s stolen credit card and cellphone to Colbert’s residence in Slidell, northeast of New Orleans. Police also recovered narcotics at her home, Chief Keith Conley said at a press conference.
Colbert, whom Conley described as a “career criminal”, has a history of fraud-related offenses. “This brings to light that there are people out there who prey on others, gain their confidence, and victimize them,” Conley warned.
Colbert’s Criminal History: Las Vegas and Louisiana Cases
Court records show Colbert was arrested twice in 2022 in Las Vegas for grand larceny and drugging victims to commit theft. Authorities accused her of drugging men in their hotel rooms and stealing valuables, but the cases were dismissed after victims declined to testify.
In one case, a man said he woke up with a bloody nose after meeting Colbert at a bar. Missing from his hotel room were $50,000 in cash, a Rolex, $11,000 in poker chips, his phone, and designer luggage, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal report.
More recently, a Louisiana jury found Colbert guilty of theft and fraud in 2023, ordering her to pay $50,000 in restitution, Orleans Parish court records show.
Autopsy Pending, No Signs of Trauma on Manzano’s Body
Police are awaiting autopsy results to determine if Manzano’s death was a homicide. Toxicology tests could take three to four weeks, said Tim Genevay, Director of Forensic Operations for Jefferson Parish. So far, there were no visible signs of physical trauma.
Manzano Remembered as a ‘Rising Star’ in Journalism
Manzano, originally from Mexico City, had built a career as a bilingual sports journalist and had covered the Kansas City Chiefs’ last two Super Bowl victories. Telemundo Kansas City General Manager Steve Downing called him a “true professional” who loved his work.
“You would always see him with a smile on his face,” Downing said. “He was dedicated to serving the community by bringing them the best in sports news.”
Manzano is survived by his 2-year-old daughter, whom he had been raising alone after his wife’s tragic death in a car accident last year.
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