Slidell Woman Sentenced To 60 Years In Death Of Reporter Who Came To New Orleans For Super Bowl

GRETNA, La. — A Slidell woman convicted in connection with the death of a 27-year-old television reporter who traveled to Louisiana to cover Super Bowl LIX will spend decades behind bars after a Jefferson Parish judge handed down a 60-year prison sentence Monday morning.

Danette Colbert was sentenced following her conviction in the death of Adan Manzano, a Kansas City Telemundo sports reporter who was found dead inside his Kenner hotel room in February 2025.

The case eventually grew far beyond the circumstances surrounding Manzano’s death. Investigators and prosecutors alleged that Colbert and others were part of a broader operation that targeted men, particularly visitors to the New Orleans area, before stealing money and property from them.

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Following a lengthy investigation and trial, Colbert was convicted of racketeering and negligent homicide.

On Monday, 24th Judicial District Court Judge Nancy Miller sentenced Colbert to 50 years for racketeering and another 10 years for negligent homicide, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively.

That means Colbert faces a total of 60 years in prison.

Reporter Came To Louisiana To Cover Super Bowl

Manzano was only 27 when he traveled from Kansas City to the New Orleans area as part of his station’s coverage of Super Bowl LIX.

He never made it home.

Manzano was found dead inside his hotel room in Kenner on February 5, 2025, just days before the Super Bowl was played at the Caesars Superdome.

Authorities determined that Manzano had alcohol and alprazolam, commonly known by the brand name Xanax, in his system. His death was ultimately attributed to positional asphyxiation.

Investigators soon turned their attention to Colbert after surveillance footage showed her with Manzano before his death.

The investigation then expanded.

Prosecutors Said Men Were Targeted And Robbed

The case ultimately exposed what prosecutors described as a pattern of men being targeted in and around New Orleans tourist areas.

According to evidence presented during the case, victims would encounter women before returning to hotels or other locations. Prosecutors alleged victims were then drugged or incapacitated while money, credit cards, phones and other property were stolen.

Investigators recovered thousands of text messages while examining the activities of Colbert and others.

Other alleged victims also emerged.

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from men describing encounters they said resulted in substantial financial losses. One victim testified that he lost approximately $100,000 following an encounter involving Colbert.

Prosecutors used those incidents to establish that Manzano’s death occurred against the backdrop of a much larger pattern rather than as an isolated encounter.

Co-Defendant Receives 45 Years

Colbert was not the only defendant facing a lengthy prison sentence.

Rickey White of Harvey was convicted of racketeering and sentenced Monday to 45 years in prison.

White had also faced a manslaughter charge connected to Manzano’s death but was acquitted of that charge.

A third defendant, Christian Anderson of Slidell, previously reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and testified during the trial. Anderson received concurrent six-year sentences after pleading guilty to simple robbery and access device fraud.

Judge Points To Criminal History

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, Judge Miller pointed to aggravating circumstances surrounding Colbert’s criminal history and what prosecutors described as a repeated pattern of targeting men.

The sentence represents one of the most significant developments in a case that began with the unexpected death of a visiting sports reporter and eventually developed into a sprawling criminal investigation.

For Manzano’s family, the case also centered on a young father and journalist who traveled to Louisiana simply to do his job.

Manzano had come to the New Orleans area to cover one of the biggest sporting events in the country.

Instead, days before Super Bowl Sunday, he was found dead in a Kenner hotel room.

More than a year and a half later, the Slidell woman convicted in connection with his death has now been ordered to spend 60 years in prison.