Third arrest made in investigation into death of KC sports reporter at Super Bowl
A third suspect has been arrested in the investigation into the death of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano during Super Bowl week in New Orleans, according to a news release Friday.
Kenner, Louisiana, police arrested Christian Anderson, 33, in connection with the Feb. 5 death of Manzano, a reporter in town for Super Bowl LIX. Anderson joins Danette Colbert, 48, and alleged accomplice, Rickey White, 34, as suspects in custody at Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.
Anderson faces charges of principal to simple robbery, purse snatching, access device fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud, and computer fraud in Jefferson Parish. Colbert and White face the same charges, and are also charged with second-degree murder.
Investigators believe Colbert intentionally drugged Manzano before robbing him, following a pattern seen in prior offenses she allegedly committed. Authorities believe she worked with White to commit these alleged crimes.
In a news conference in March, 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.
Anderson allegedly played a role in “a coordinated pattern of targeting victims, drugging them, and stealing personal property, including phones and financial account access”, the release said. Police gathered evidence through search warrants, text messages, and digital communications.
Anderson allegedly rented the vehicle Colbert used on the day of Manzano’s death, gave support and texted Colbert after the crime and assisted in attempting to financially benefit from Manzano’s stolen assets, according to the release.
“Records show Anderson and Colbert communicated extensively following the incident, and that he played a role in the group’s recurring criminal behavior,” the release said.
Manzano, 27, was on assignment in New Orleans covering Super Bowl LIX for Telemundo and Tico Sports, a multimedia production company that broadcasts Kansas City Chiefs games in Spanish.
Kenner Police detectives are collaborating with Louisiana State Police investigators, the attorney general’s Office, and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office on the case.
Pattern of behavior
Earlier in May, Colbert was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Orleans Parish, Louisiana, after a judge revoked her probation in the case, according to court records. Colbert was convicted on charges of computer fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, and two counts of theft.
Colbert drugged a man and stole $134,000 from him in November 2021 after they met in the French Quarter, according to NOLA.com.
After her conviction, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Nandi Campbell suspended 10 year, 5 year and 6 month sentences in the case and ordered Colbert to serve 5 years of active probation last November, court records said.
In March, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office took over all pending charges against Colbert from district courts in multiple parishes across Louisiana. Murrill’s office also invoked the habitual offenders statute, where criminal defendants can be tagged as habitual offenders after a fourth felony charge, according to Louisiana law, and face longer prison sentences.
Previous reporting from The Star’s Nathan Pilling and Ilana Arougheti was used in this story.
