Police have arrested Danette Colbert, 48, in connection with the death of sports reporter Adan Manzano, who was found unresponsive in his hotel room while covering the Super Bowl.
Colbert, a known career criminal with a history of fraud and theft, was taken into custody Thursday after investigators linked her to Manzano’s final hours. Surveillance footage from the hotel showed her entering his room with him early Wednesday morning—only to leave alone an hour later.
Authorities launched a search for Colbert after discovering Manzano’s credit card had been used at multiple stores in New Orleans following his death. Upon her arrest, police recovered the journalist’s phone and credit card at her residence in Slidell, about 33 miles north of the city.
Colbert has been charged with fraud and theft, though investigators are working to determine if she played a direct role in Manzano’s death. Police also found narcotics and a stolen firearm in her home, though no illegal substances were discovered in Manzano’s hotel room.
“We are looking at all angles in this case,” Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley stated at a press conference. “This is an ongoing investigation, and we are not ruling anything out.”
Colbert, known locally as the “Bourbon Street Hustler,” has a lengthy rap sheet spanning multiple states, including New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Nashville. Her criminal history includes allegations of drugging men, theft, and financial fraud.
“She plays a confidence game,” Conley said. “She gains her victims’ trust before exploiting them. She’s a career criminal.”
Her record dates back to at least 2014, when New Orleans police sought her for allegedly stealing a Rolex watch, credit cards, and cash from a man’s hotel room. In 2022, she was arrested in Las Vegas after a man claimed she drugged him before stealing $50,000 in cash, a $30,000 Rolex, and other valuables.
While Colbert is currently facing fraud and theft charges, police have not yet determined Manzano’s cause of death. The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office is awaiting toxicology results, but there were no signs of visible trauma on his body.
“At this point, we don’t have enough evidence to charge her in his death, but we are investigating her involvement,” Conley added.
Manzano, 27, had been in New Orleans covering the Super Bowl for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports. He was found dead in his hotel in Kenner, Louisiana, after missing his scheduled assignment on Wednesday.
His sudden passing comes just months after the tragic death of his wife, Ashleigh LeeAnn Boyd, who was killed in a car crash in Topeka. The couple’s 15-month-old daughter survived the accident but was seriously injured.
Police have warned visitors to New Orleans to be extra cautious, especially with major events like the Super Bowl attracting opportunistic criminals.
“These types of predators look for high-profile events to target unsuspecting victims,” Conley said. “This case should serve as a reminder to be vigilant.”
Colbert remains in custody as the investigation continues. Additional charges could be filed pending the results of the autopsy and further police inquiries.
