Police in Louisiana mentioned Monday they’re investigating the chance {that a} sports activities reporter who had traveled to New Orleans to cowl the Tremendous Bowl might have been drugged earlier than his loss of life.
Adan Manzano, a reporter for KGKC Telemundo Kansas Metropolis and Tico Sports activities, was discovered useless in his resort room in Kenner, Louisiana, on Feb. 5, police mentioned. A trigger and method of loss of life haven’t been launched.
A girl who police mentioned was seen going into Manzano’s resort room hours earlier than he was discovered useless allegedly had his cellphone and bank card in her residence, in response to the Kenner Police Division. The suspect — Danette Colbert, of Slidell, Louisiana — has been charged with property crimes, together with theft and fraud-related offenses, police mentioned.
Amid the continued investigation into Manzano’s loss of life, police mentioned Monday that whereas they’re nonetheless awaiting toxicology reviews, that are anticipated to take a number of weeks, “investigators are exploring all out there proof on this case, together with the chance that Manzano might have been drugged earlier than his loss of life.”
“Colbert has an arrest historical past that features related allegations involving drugging people to facilitate theft,” the Kenner Police Division mentioned in an announcement on Monday.
Since her arrest final week, the Kenner Police Division mentioned it has been contacted by individuals “claiming to be victims or reporting suspicious deaths underneath related circumstances.”
“All of those complaints can be referred to the suitable jurisdictions for additional investigation,” the division mentioned.
The reserving picture for Danette Colbert.
Kenner Police Division
Colbert was charged with theft, entry system fraud, unlawful transmission of financial funds, financial institution fraud and laptop fraud in Jefferson Parish amid the investigation into Manzano’s loss of life, police mentioned.
Investigators are “working intently with forensic specialists and the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Workplace to find out whether or not further fees could also be warranted,” police mentioned Monday.
Colbert stays in custody on the Jefferson Parish Correctional Middle awaiting legal proceedings, police mentioned. It’s unclear if she has an legal professional.
Police are conscious of two prior situations in Nevada and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, by which Colbert was accused of drugging a sufferer and stealing his “entry system playing cards and issues of that nature,” Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley mentioned at a press briefing final week.
“We’ll let the proof lead us to the tip consequence and never speculate,” Conley mentioned final week when requested whether or not they thought of this a murder investigation.
Surveillance video reveals Manzano and Colbert at his resort the morning of Feb. 5, police mentioned. Colbert was seen leaving his room and coming again, then leaving once more later that morning, police mentioned.
Investigators have moreover recognized areas the place the 2 had been seen collectively in New Orleans, police mentioned Monday.
This picture offered by Telemundo Kansas Metropolis reveals tv reporter Adan Manzano, who was discovered useless in his resort room Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 whereas visiting New Orleans to cowl the Tremendous Bowl.
Telemundo Kansas Metropolis by way of AP
Investigators decided that Colbert used Manzano’s bank card at a number of shops within the New Orleans space, police mentioned.
His cellphone and bank card had been situated inside her residence whereas deputies executed a search warrant and she or he was arrested on Thursday, police mentioned.
KGKC Telemundo Kansas Metropolis remembered Manzano as a “true skilled and a rising star.”
“We’ll deeply miss Adan and his ardour for sports activities, and the contributions he made to the local people,” the station mentioned.
