Adan Manzano, a reporter for Telemundo Kansas City, was discovered deceased in a hotel in New Orleans. The Louisiana woman allegedly connected to the Super Bowl reporter’s death has faced accusations from other men of drugging and robbing them. Moreover, she should not have been on probation at the time of the reporter’s demise, as disclosed by the state’s chief prosecutor.
Danette Colbert, aged 48, was convicted in October for offenses including computer fraud, theft, and unauthorized transmission of money in relation to a scheme in November 2021, targeting a victim’s life savings. David Butler, a victim of her actions, shared in court records and an interview with NBC News that Colbert allegedly left him severely affected after drugging and stealing over $80,000 in cryptocurrency from him within New Orleans’ French Quarter. Despite the serious accusation, no drug test was conducted, and no charges pertaining to the drugging incident were pressed.
Colbert was sentenced to five years of probation last fall and was instructed to pay $50,000 in restitution to Butler, as per court documents. However, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office is currently seeking to revoke this sentence and replace it with a more severe one, according to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in a statement released on Monday. Murrill emphasized Colbert’s standing as a “habitual offender,” which permits prosecutors in the state to pursue harsher penalties based on the defendant’s criminal record.
Jefferson Parish District Attorney Jason Williams also enlisted Murrill’s assistance due to Colbert’s alleged crimes spanning across various jurisdictions. Williams expressed confidence that this collaborative effort would result in a more cohesive and targeted prosecution of these significant cases.
Colbert’s legal counsel has not responded to the recent queries. In a statement from a lawyer representing her in a separate case last month, it was emphasized that her actions should not be solely judged based on her criminal history. The judge presiding over the case in November has opted not to comment further and referred all inquiries to Butler’s victim impact statement.
Butler, in his victim impact statement, underscored Colbert’s “continual disregard for others,” asserting that she warranted the maximum prison sentence for her actions. Prior to her conviction in October, Colbert had previously pleaded guilty in two cases with similar claims of fraud and theft in Jefferson Parish. During the pendency of Butler’s case, she faced charges in Clark County, Nevada, for grand larceny and administering drugs to facilitate felony charges in two separate incidents. However, these charges were dismissed after the victims declined to testify in court.
Alleged victims in two other cases involving Colbert claimed that she targeted them in October 2021 by posing as an Uber driver in the French Quarter. Despite their reports to the authorities, no charges have been filed in either instance. New Orleans police have assured that they diligently investigate all filed cases, though no suspect has been identified in these
Manzano’s body was found in a Kenner hotel room, located west of New Orleans, on February 5. A preliminary toxicology report indicated the presence of a drug, commonly known as Xanax, in his system. He did not have a prescription for this drug, as stated by a police investigator during a recent hearing, and the drug was discovered at Colbert’s Slidell residence. Authorities have mentioned that Colbert might face additional charges once the autopsy and toxicology testing are concluded in this case. Following Manzano’s death, officials in Kenner received a dozen complaints from individuals suspecting that they or their loved ones may have been affected by Colbert, including the death of a man from Maryland who was found unresponsive in a French Quarter hotel room in December. The investigation into these claims is ongoing.
