Authorities are piecing together a disturbing pattern after the death of Telemundo Kansas City reporter Adan Manzano, who was found dead in a Kenner, Louisiana hotel room the morning after the Super Bowl. According to law enforcement sources, text messages between the two suspects in the case—Danette Colbert and Rickey White—indicate the pair had been scheming for years to drug and rob victims in multiple cities, including New Orleans, other parts of Louisiana, and Las Vegas.
Colbert has been charged with second-degree murder after Manzano was discovered face-down on a pillow with Xanax and alcohol in his system. The coroner also listed positional asphyxia as a contributing factor. The official cause of death is undetermined due to “uncertain circumstances,” but investigators believe foul play was involved.
Surveillance video from the hotel shows Manzano and Colbert getting off an elevator together just hours before his body was found. Police later found his cellphone and credit card in Colbert’s home, along with Xanax. She was initially charged with theft and fraud but is now facing a murder charge. Her alleged accomplice, Rickey White, was arrested in Florida and later extradited to Jefferson Parish. He’s currently facing robbery and fraud charges.
According to the Kenner Police Department, Colbert and White were known to use drugs to incapacitate victims before stealing from them. Investigators believe this may have been part of a larger, organized effort that targeted men in nightlife and travel hotspots. They’ve already identified other potential victims with similar experiences.
New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams confirmed the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office is now involved, describing the case as a “national, multijurisdictional crime spree.” In a statement to ABC News, Williams said, “This was not random. There’s a certain pattern with having drinks or food and then saying to the person they’ll help him back to their room.”
Both Colbert and White remain in custody without bond as the investigation continues.
