Super Bowl^® Reporter Found Dead in Hotel Room

A Kansas City sports reporter on assignment for the Super Bowl^® was recently found dead in his New Orleans hotel room, and police say the woman last seen with him has a long history of preying on unsuspecting victims. Now, investigators are working to determine if this was another one of her calculated crimes — or something even more sinister.

What Happened to Adan Manzano?

Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old anchor and sports reporter for Telemundo Kansas City, was in Louisiana covering the Super Bowl when he was found dead in his room at a Comfort Suites hotel on Feb. 5, four days before the big game.

Surveillance footage showed Manzano with Colbert in the French Quarter before she followed him back to his hotel room. A few hours later, she was seen leaving the room alone. Police later found Manzano's credit card and cellphone in Colbert's home, with records showing she had fraudulently used his card at several stores in the area.

While Colbert has been charged with property crimes, authorities say additional charges could be filed depending on the results of Manzano's toxicology report. Police are investigating whether he was drugged before his death.

Tragedy Strikes Twice: Manzano's Family Still Grieving

Manzano's death comes less than a year after the tragic loss of his wife, Ashleigh LeeAnn Boyd Manzano. She died in a car crash in Topeka, Kansas, on April 11, 2024. Now with his death, they leave behind their young daughter.

Colleagues and friends described Manzano as a rising star in journalism and a devoted father. Adan was a "true professional and rising star who exemplified excellence in his work," his station, KGKC, said in a statement, as reported by USA Today.

Who Is Danette Colbert? A Criminal History of Drugging and Robbing Men

Danette Colbert, 48, is no stranger to law enforcement. Authorities say she has a long track record of luring men into dangerous situations, often drugging them before robbing them.

In 2022, she was arrested in Las Vegas after a man alleged that Colbert and another woman drugged him at a bar, forced him to drink a spiked beverage in his hotel room, and stole his $60,000 watch, credit card, and casino chips. Months earlier, she was accused in a separate case of drugging and robbing another man of $50,000 in cash, a Rolex watch, and casino chips. Both cases were later dismissed when the victims refused to testify, a pattern that has allowed Colbert to avoid serious jail time.

Colbert was also convicted in 2021 of drugging and robbing David Butler, a man who says she left him for dead after stealing $134,000 from his accounts. She was sentenced to probation instead of prison, a decision Butler now says may have cost Manzano his life.

Could There Be More Victims?

Since Colbert's arrest, investigators say they have received multiple reports from people claiming to have been drugged and robbed by her. Police are also looking into whether she was involved in a separate death at a New Orleans hotel in December 2024.

Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley warned that major events like the Super Bowl attract "traveling criminals" who prey on visitors. "She plays a confidence game. She's definitely a career criminal," he said, according to USA Today.

Colbert is currently being held without bond at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. Authorities say additional charges may be filed pending further investigation.

What's Next?

While investigators wait for toxicology results to determine whether Manzano was drugged, the case against Colbert continues to build. Prosecutors in Orleans Parish have already filed a motion to revoke her probation from a prior conviction, potentially sending her to prison even before the full investigation is complete.

With unanswered questions still lingering, those who knew him are left mourning a life cut short far too soon. For Manzano's grieving family, friends, and colleagues, justice cannot come soon enough.

References: Woman arrested in connection with Super Bowl reporter's death is 'career criminal,' police say | Suspect held without bond following death of Kansas City Super Bowl reporter | Woman linked to sports reporter's death accused of drugging others, draining their accounts | Man says he was drugged, robbed and left for dead by woman accused in reporter's death in New Orleans | Woman charged in $50K Las Vegas Strip theft arrested again