The sports media community was shocked to learn that Adan Manzano, 27, a sports anchor and reporter for Telemundo 39 in Kansas City, had died on Wednesday while on assignment in New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.
Details surrounding his death were scarce, but we learned more about the investigation into Manzano’s death Friday with the news that local police had arrested a suspect.
The Kenner Police Department announced Friday that 48-year-old Danette Colbert had been arrested and charged with property crimes, including fraud and theft-related offenses. Colbert and Manzano were seen together early Wednesday morning on security footage at his hotel. Footage also showed her leaving his hotel room alone soon after. Police discovered that Colbert had used a credit card belonging to Manzano at several stores in and around New Orleans.
Colbert has a criminal history “that includes allegations of drugging men, theft of currency, fraudulent use of credit and debit cards, and other financial crimes,” Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said.
Manzano was discovered dead in his hotel room around 12 hours after Colbert when hotel staff did a wellness check. The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office is running tests to determine if Manzano was drugged, according to police.
Compounding this tragedy is that Manzano’s death occurred just 10 months after his wife died in a car crash while driving his one-year-old daughter, who survived.
Manzano graduated from Kansas State University and worked for La Semana del Sur, Reyes Media Group, and Sky Sports Mexico before taking his job at Telemundo 39 in 2021.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.