NEW ORLEANS — A television reporter from Kansas City, Missouri, tragically passed away during a work assignment in New Orleans, and recent court testimonies have revealed the presence of a sedative in his system.
Adan Manzano, aged 27, who anchored and reported for Telemundo, was discovered deceased in his hotel room located in the Kenner suburb on February 5, coinciding with the busy Super Bowl week.
Authorities have charged Danette Colbert, aged 48, with theft of Manzano’s cellphone and bank cards. Security footage showed her entering Manzano’s hotel room alongside him. Due to her criminal past, she remains in custody without bond after being considered a flight risk, announced Kenner Police Department’s Deputy Chief on Wednesday.
“This measure is believed to help prevent future crimes against the public,” the deputy chief emphasized.
Colbert’s legal representative, Stavros Panagoulopoulos, argued that the authorities’ conclusions regarding Colbert’s link to Manzano’s death lack concrete evidence.
“We eagerly anticipate our chance in court to fully present the evidence,” Panagoulopoulos stated. “Assumptions don’t meet the threshold for sustaining criminal charges, and we will provide additional insights as the proceedings continue.”
Pending the results of a final autopsy and toxicology report, Colbert is confronted with multiple felony counts tied to theft and fraud. Authorities have hinted that more severe charges might follow when those results are completed shortly.
Testimony from Kenner Police Detective, Jeffrey Fitzmorris, revealed that preliminary toxicology results showed benzodiazepine, a known depressant often sold under the brand Xanax, was detected in Manzano’s system. Notably, Manzano did not possess a prescription for this or similar drugs based on his medical records, and this substance is recognized for its potential to facilitate theft by causing memory loss, the detective reported.
Investigators also seized Xanax during a search of Colbert’s residence.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warns of the risks of benzodiazepine overdoses, including “extreme drowsiness” and the potential for “death,” based on their findings.
Surveillance imagery documented Colbert accompanying Manzano to his hotel room at around 5 a.m. on the day he was found deceased and departing solo an hour later. It’s reported by police that Colbert further used Manzano’s card for transactions at a local gas station and several shops afterward.
Previously, in a separate incident, a Louisiana jury convicted Colbert for theft and fraud. Additionally, in Las Vegas, during 2022, Colbert faced arrest twice over charges of grand larceny and administratively using drugs to perpetuate a felony, court records reveal. In both instances, the charges did not proceed due to victims’ unwillingness to testify, mentioned her then-attorney.
In this tragic turn of events, the case continues to develop as authorities await comprehensive forensic results that may piece together the circumstances around Manzano’s untimely death.
