Woman charged with murder of Kansas City sports reporter, accomplice also charged: Police
A woman previously linked to the death of Adan Manzano, the Kansas City sports reporter who died while in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX last month, now faces a second-degree murder charge, police in Kenner, Louisiana, said Tuesday.
Police also said an “accomplice” to the woman was arrested in Florida and is also facing charges connected to the death.
Danette Colbert, who was arrested Feb. 6, the day after after Manzano’s death in the New Orleans suburb, now faces one count of second-degree murder, in addition to previous charges that include fraud and robbery.
In a press conference announcing the developments Tuesday, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said investigators linked the man, who he identified as Rickey White, to Colbert using “correspondence” and said police believe the two were working “hand in hand.”
Police said investigators believe Colbert intentionally drugged Manzano before robbing him, following a pattern seen in prior offenses she allegedly committed. Authorities said they believed she worked with White.
White was arrested in Hollywood, Florida, on Friday, and now faces simple robbery, access device fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud and computer fraud charges, Conley said. White was not charged with murder, he said.
“There’s a lot of pieces in this puzzle,” Conley said. “We recognize this is going to be a circumstantial case. (Jefferson Parish’s district attorney) has some heavy lifting to do with that, but the fact that we crossed the hurdle by getting the probable cause affidavit signed for her being charged with second-degree murder, it’s a good start.
“We’re not going to give up. We are still investigating this case around the clock.”
In the news conference, Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich confirmed the cause of Manzano’s death was the combined toxic effects of Xanax and alcohol, as well as “positional asphyxia.” Manzano was found dead face-down on a pillow, he said.
Given the “uncertain circumstances” surrounding the incident, the manner of Manzano’s death was ruled to be “undetermined,” Cvitanovich said.
“Something may come up, we may find something that changes the opinion of our group of pathologists, and we may change it,” he said. “Right now, that’s where we are.”
Manzano, 27, was on assignment in New Orleans for the Super Bowl when he was found dead in his hotel room Feb. 5. He was covering the game for Telemundo and Tico Sports, a production company that broadcasts Kansas City Chiefs games in Spanish.
Colbert was linked to the death after Manzano’s phone and credit card were found at her home and investigators found several locations where the two were seen together in New Orleans. Colbert allegedly used Manzano’s credit card at several stores in the New Orleans area, and police said Xanax was found at her home.
Security video allegedly shows the two at his hotel between 4:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the morning of his death before she could be seen leaving alone.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said last week that Colbert should have been in custody on previous charges at the time of Manzano’s death, and that she should not have been eligible for probation under those prior charges.
Previous reporting from The Star’s PJ Green and Ilana Arougheti was used in this story.
