How a Super Bowl^® Assignment Became a Murder Scene

Adan Manzano arrived in New Orleans ready to cover the Super Bowl^®. The 27-year-old Telemundo Kansas City sports reporter had a rising career, a young daughter, and a passion for storytelling. But on Feb. 5, 2025, hotel staff found him dead in his hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana — face down on a pillow, his phone and credit card gone.

A Pattern Hiding in Plain Sight

Authorities moved quickly. They arrested Danette Colbert, a 48-year-old woman with a history of fraud and a long trail of alleged victims. They later charged her with second-degree murder, citing toxicology reports that showed Manzano died from the combined effects of alcohol, Xanax, and positional asphyxia. Police found Xanax in Colbert's home the next day and accused her of drugging Manzano during a robbery scheme.

Colbert hadn't acted alone, police say. On March 18, 2025, investigators announced the arrest of Rickey White, her alleged accomplice, in Florida. According to ABC News, law enforcement uncovered years' worth of text messages outlining schemes to drug and rob men in multiple states. Kenner police called the case a "national, multi-jurisdictional crime spree," as reported by PEOPLE.

The playbook rarely changed: spike a drink, swipe a phone, empty the accounts. Several victims said they reported similar encounters going back years, including some who ended up unconscious or disoriented — sometimes waking up in strange places, missing thousands of dollars.

Colbert had never held an Uber^® account, according to a spokesperson for the company. But victims claimed she posed as a driver, lured men into her vehicle, and exploited their trust to access financial apps and crypto wallets.

Victims Warned the System: 'She Was Going to Kill Somebody'

David Butler still remembers the drink that changed everything. While working on a house near the French Quarter in 2021, he stopped into a Bourbon Street bar. After meeting Colbert and another woman, he left his drink unattended to grab a second round. Moments after sipping again, the room spun. He blacked out.

Butler later discovered Colbert had cleaned out $85,000 from his cryptocurrency accounts and tried to pull $50,000 more from his bank. He told the New York Times, "I told the judge, I told the D.A., that she was going to kill somebody."

Even after Colbert's 2023 conviction in his case, a judge sentenced her to probation and ordered restitution. No jail time.

Jason Egle, another alleged victim, described his experience as nearly identical — and equally frustrating. "Somebody shouldn't have to die," he told the New York Times.

A Rising Star, Silenced Too Soon

Manzano had shown up to report the biggest football game of the year. He never got the chance. By the time co-workers requested a wellness check, he was gone.

According to PEOPLE, Telemundo KC honored their colleague in a statement saying, "Adan was an exceptional professional and a rising star whose dedication and talent reflected excellence in his work."

Behind the heartbreak lies a deeper frustration: Warning signs blinked for years, but no one hit the brakes. Now, a young father is gone, and a newsroom mourns a voice silenced by a crime that others say could have — and should have — been prevented.

References: Long Before She Was Charged With Murder, a Group of Men Had Raised an Alarm | Alleged Years-Long Drugging and Theft Scheme Led to Killing of Super Bowl Reporter Adan Manzano