Murder Charge For Suspect In Reporter's Death

A Louisiana woman named Danette Colbert, aged 48, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo reporter. Manzano, who worked for Telemundo Kansas City, was found dead on February 5, 2025, in a hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, while he was in town to cover Super Bowl LIX. 

Colbert was initially arrested on February 6, 2025, and charged with theft and fraud-related offenses after authorities found Manzano’s cellphone and credit card in her possession, which she allegedly used at local stores. Security footage from the hotel showed Colbert entering Manzano’s room with him around 4:35 a.m. on February 5 and leaving alone about an hour later. On March 18, 2025, the Kenner Police Department upgraded her charges to include second-degree murder, a crime that carries a mandatory life sentence without parole in Louisiana.

Manzano, Colbert

A preliminary autopsy revealed that Manzano died from the combined toxic effects of alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) and ethanol (alcohol), with positional asphyxia—where his face-down position on a pillow prevented breathing—as a contributing factor. His blood-alcohol level was reported at .232%, nearly three times the legal driving limit. The manner of death remains officially undetermined due to unclear circumstances, but authorities suspect Colbert’s involvement, though they have not publicly detailed how she may have administered the substances.

Colbert has a prior criminal history, including convictions for theft and fraud in Louisiana, where she served probation in one case and prison time in another. She was on probation at the time of Manzano’s death, stemming from a 2021 case involving drugging and robbing a man. She also faced charges in Las Vegas in 2022 for similar crimes, though those were dropped when victims declined to testify. Since her arrest, additional allegations have surfaced, with authorities investigating potential links to other suspicious deaths, including that of John Jenkins, found unresponsive in a New Orleans hotel in December 2024.

A second suspect, Ricky White, described as a transient and possible accomplice, was arrested in Florida on charges like robbery and bank fraud related to Manzano’s death. He awaits extradition to Louisiana. Colbert remains in custody without bond, and police continue to build what they describe as a circumstantial case against her, expressing confidence in securing a conviction.