Reporter’s Death in New Orleans Leads to Murder Charge

Reporter’s Death in New Orleans Leads to Murder Charge \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A woman has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano. Manzano was found dead in a New Orleans hotel during Super Bowl coverage. Police say Danette Colbert, already arrested for theft, now faces murder charges despite inconclusive autopsy results.

Woman Charged With Murder of Telemundo Reporter — Quick Looks

• Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano found dead in New Orleans on February 5.
• Danette Colbert, 48, arrested for theft and now charged with second-degree murder.
• Preliminary autopsy shows death from positional asphyxia after alcohol and Xanax ingestion.
• Police say Manzano’s medical records showed no Xanax prescriptions.
• Colbert was seen on hotel security footage entering and leaving his room.
• She allegedly used Manzano’s credit cards after his death.
• Authorities found Xanax at Colbert’s residence.
• A suspected accomplice was arrested in Florida for theft and fraud.
• Colbert has prior convictions for theft and fraud in Louisiana.
• Previous Las Vegas arrests linked her to similar drugging and theft crimes.

Deep Look

A tragic and shocking turn of events has led to a second-degree murder charge in the death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano, who was found dead last month while covering Super Bowl-related stories in New Orleans. On Tuesday, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley announced that 48-year-old Danette Colbert, initially arrested on charges of theft and credit card fraud, now faces a murder charge in connection with Manzano’s death.

Manzano, 27, was a rising star in Spanish-language media, working as a reporter and anchor for Telemundo in Kansas City, Missouri. His body was discovered on February 5 in a hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana — a suburb of New Orleans — where he had been staying during his assignment to cover Super Bowl events. The following day, Colbert was arrested for allegedly stealing Manzano’s cellphone and using his credit cards.

The murder charge comes despite preliminary autopsy findings being inconclusive on whether Manzano’s death was homicide or accidental. Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, the Jefferson Parish coroner, stated that Manzano died from positional asphyxia — suffocation that occurs when someone cannot breathe due to their position — after ingesting a dangerous combination of alcohol and Xanax. “Both of them are central nervous system depressants, and when combined, they can be deadly,” Cvitanovich explained. He added that such conditions can leave a person unable to adjust their body position if they become unconscious or incapacitated.

Police have emphasized that Manzano had no prescription for Xanax, and during their investigation, they recovered the drug from Colbert’s home. Surveillance video from the hotel captured Colbert entering Manzano’s room with him and leaving alone about an hour later. Authorities say she later used his credit cards at a local gas station and several area retailers.

Chief Conley told reporters that despite the coroner’s inconclusive findings regarding intent or foul play, investigators are confident they have built a strong, though circumstantial, case against Colbert. “There are a lot of pieces in this puzzle,” Conley said. “We recognize it’s going to be a circumstantial case, but we are very confident in the evidence we’ve gathered.”

In addition to charging Colbert, authorities have arrested a suspected accomplice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on theft and fraud charges. Police believe the two worked together based on digital communications between them. Conley did not disclose the accomplice’s name but confirmed that their correspondence indicated a coordinated effort to target and defraud victims.

This isn’t Colbert’s first brush with the law. Last year, she was convicted of theft and fraud in Louisiana in an unrelated case. Court records also show that in 2022, Colbert was arrested twice in Las Vegas on felony charges of grand larceny and administering drugs to aid in felony crimes. In both instances, she allegedly drugged men in their hotel rooms and then stole valuables. Those charges were ultimately dismissed after the victims declined to testify.

Colbert’s alleged pattern of behavior, combined with the circumstances surrounding Manzano’s death, paints a grim picture. Prosecutors are expected to argue that Colbert administered Xanax without Manzano’s knowledge or consent, leading to his death and subsequently stealing his belongings.

The case has sparked outrage and grief, particularly within the journalism community. Manzano, known for his vibrant reporting and engaging personality, was widely admired by colleagues and viewers alike. His unexpected death and the circumstances surrounding it have left many calling for justice.

Colbert remains in custody as the murder investigation continues, and no trial date has been set. Her attorney, Stavros Panagoulopoulos, has criticized the investigation, previously accusing police of making “assumptions and guesses.” He did not respond to requests for comment following the upgraded charges.

Manzano’s family, friends, and colleagues continue to mourn his loss, with memorials and tributes shared across Telemundo affiliates and social media platforms. His death highlights growing concerns over criminal schemes involving drugging and theft, particularly targeting visitors in major tourist cities.

As authorities prepare for what is likely to be a highly watched trial, the public waits to see if the evidence — largely circumstantial — will be enough to convict Colbert. Prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and the patterns of Colbert’s prior arrests to prove their case.

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