NEW ORLEANS (TNND) — Two people were found guilty Thursday in the death of a Kansas City sports reporter who was covering the Super Bowl in New Orleans last year.
Adan Manzano, 27, was found dead in his hotel room on Feb. 5, 2025, during Super Bowl week. The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office determined he died from the combined effects of alcohol and Xanax.
Danette Colbert was convicted of negligent homicide in Manzano’s death. Her alleged accomplice, Rickey White, was convicted of racketeering but found not guilty of manslaughter.
This photo provided by Telemundo Kansas City shows television reporter Adan Manzano, who was found dead in his hotel room Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 while visiting New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl. (Telemundo Kansas City via AP)
Prosecutors alleged White ran an operation targeting men in the French Quarter, where women, including Colbert, would lure men in, drug them and rob them, WWL reported. They said Colbert met Manzano on Bourbon Street, went with him to his hotel room, drugged him and took his belongings.
Surveillance video showed Colbert with Manzano and later returning to his hotel room, according to investigators. Manzano’s phone, debit card and room key were later found on Colbert.
A third defendant, Christian Anderson, agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for testifying. He detailed White allegedly directing the group to target, drug and rob men in the French Quarter. Prosecutors also presented text messages and photos of victims’ IDs as evidence.
The defense argued prosecutors did not prove Colbert gave Manzano drugs and suggested he may have taken Xanax himself while drinking.
Neither Colbert nor White testified, and the defense called no witnesses. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28.