Full Breakdown
Jury Convicts Danette Colbert in Death of Super Bowl Reporter
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo Kansas City sports anchor, traveled to New Orleans in 2025 to cover Super Bowl LIX. He was found dead in his hotel room in the Kenner suburb early February, lying face-down on a pillow. A pathologist testified that a high blood-alcohol level, the presence of alprazolam (Xanax), and positional asphyxia contributed to his death.
Timeline
- Early February 2025 – Manzano’s body discovered.
- Trial concluded after five hours of jury deliberation in September 2026.
- Sentencing is set for late September 2026.
Key Figures
- Danette Colbert (49) – alleged organizer of a scheme that drugged and robbed victims.
- Rickey White (35) – described by prosecutors as a “pimp” who assisted Colbert.
- Christian Anderson (35) – testified for the prosecution after a plea deal.
- Adan Manzano (27) – victim, Telemundo Kansas City reporter.
- Jenny Voss – Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney.
Data & Statistics
- Charges: racketeering (up to 50 years), negligent homicide (up to 10 years).
- Jury deliberated more than five hours.
- Evidence included surveillance video of Colbert with Manzano on Bourbon Street, Xanax found at Colbert’s Slidell home, and Manzano’s stolen credit-card use at local merchants.
Official Statements & Responses
The district attorney’s office confirmed both Colbert and White face up to 50 years on the racketeering count, with Colbert also facing a maximum 10-year term for negligent homicide. Prosecutors characterized the defendants’ operation as a multi-year criminal enterprise that drugged victims and stole their assets.
On-the-Ground Reports
Hotel staff reported Manzano missed a scheduled appointment and was later found dead. Surveillance footage captured Colbert with Manzano on Bourbon Street and later entering his hotel room. Investigators recovered Manzano’s debit card, hotel key card, and a bottle of alprazolam at Colbert’s residence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether White was convicted of manslaughter; ABC News says he was acquitted, while the New York Times does not specify. All sources agree he was found guilty of racketeering. No eyewitness testimony directly links the defendants to the administration of drugs, leaving a factual gap in the causal chain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The most dangerous thing that Adan Manzano did was meeting Danette Colbert, and now he’s dead,” — Jefferson Parish Assistant District, spokesperson
- “They weren’t just a group of people that talked casually. At one point they lived with Danette Colbert and then with Rickey White. They weren’t just pals, they were partners,” — Jefferson Parish Assistant District, spokesperson
- “There was never any evidence of anything being administered to Mr. Manzano,” — Stavros Panagoulopoulos, defense attorney
What’s Next
Sentencing for Colbert and White is scheduled for late September 2026. Both face potential imprisonment of up to 50 years on the racketeering conviction, with an additional possible 10-year term for Colbert’s negligent-homicide conviction.