A Louisiana jury on Thursday convicted Danette Colbert, 49, of negligent homicide in the death of Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo reporter covering the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Colbert was also found guilty of racketeering, a charge that carries up to 50 years in prison in Louisiana.
The jury deliberated for five and a half hours before reaching the verdict, according to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office. Colbert’s conviction on negligent homicide carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Colbert’s accomplice, Rickey White, 35, was acquitted of all charges, including the racketeering and manslaughter counts prosecutors pursued. Prosecutors had initially sought to convict both defendants on manslaughter, which carries a 40-year maximum sentence, but the jury did not return a guilty verdict on that charge.
Manzano was found dead in his Kenner hotel room on February 5, 2024, days before the Super Bowl. An autopsy determined he died after ingesting a combination of alcohol and Xanax, leaving him unable to breathe while lying face down on a pillow.
Background: A Pattern of Alleged Exploitation
Prosecutors described Colbert and White as operators of a multi-year criminal enterprise that targeted victims in New Orleans’ French Quarter. According to court filings, the pair lured individuals with promises of sex, then drugged them before stealing money and personal information from their bank accounts and phones.
Colbert was the last person seen leaving Manzano’s hotel room before his death, which drew immediate scrutiny from law enforcement. Police identified her as a person of interest within days of the discovery.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Assistant District Attorney Jenny Voss stated that the jury had carefully weighed the evidence before delivering the verdict. “We are pleased with the verdict,” Voss told reporters. “We knew that this was a difficult case going in with a lot of complicated law, and we really feel like they took all that into consideration.”
The case raises broader questions about hotel safety protocols and the vulnerabilities of visiting journalists covering high-profile events. Manzano, a reporter and anchor based in Kansas City, Missouri, was in New Orleans to cover Super Bowl festivities when he died.
Next Steps
Colbert remains in custody pending sentencing. White, who was acquitted, was released. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office has not indicated whether additional charges or investigations are pending in connection with the case.