A Louisiana jury has delivered a resounding verdict in the death of Adan Manzano, the 27-year-old Telemundo reporter who was found lifeless in a Kenner, Louisiana hotel room while covering the Super Bowl in February 2025. The decision brings a measure of closure to a case that shocked the sports journalism community and exposed a predatory criminal operation lurking in the shadows of one of America's biggest sporting events.
After deliberating, the jury convicted 48-year-old Danette Colbert and her alleged accomplice, Rickey White, on racketeering charges. Colbert was additionally found guilty of negligent homicide, while White was acquitted of manslaughter. The mixed verdict reflects the complex nature of a case that prosecutors acknowledged was challenging from the outset.
According to autopsy findings, Manzano died from a lethal combination of alcohol and Xanax, his face pressed into a pillow as he was unable to breathe. Prosecutors argued that Colbert was the last person seen with the reporter before his death, having drugged him and made off with his wallet and cell phone.
The case peeled back the curtain on a years-long criminal enterprise operating in New Orleans' historic French Quarter. Authorities say Colbert and White lured victims with promises of sex before incapacitating them with drugs and draining their bank accounts using stolen cards and phones. The scheme preyed on visitors and locals alike, leaving a trail of financial ruin and, in Manzano's case, tragedy.
"We are pleased with the verdict — we knew this was a difficult case going in," Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Jenny Voss told reporters. "Justice was served."
Colbert's conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, according to Voss. A third suspect, Christian Anderson, faced similar charges but accepted a plea deal, reducing his manslaughter charges to simple robbery and his racketeering charge to access device fraud.
The verdict arrives as the sports world continues to grapple with the safety of journalists covering major events. Manzano's death is a stark reminder of the risks faced by reporters working far from home. In a separate tragedy that shook the industry, the final moments of reporter Eliana Moreno were captured on video before her fatal crash, underscoring the dangers members of the media can encounter on assignment.
Super Bowl 61 is scheduled for February 2027 in Los Angeles, and organizers will undoubtedly review security protocols in light of this case. For now, Manzano's family and colleagues can take some comfort in a jury's decision that held those responsible accountable for a life cut short during what should have been a routine assignment covering the biggest game in American sports.
