Police: Woman Arrested, Caught With Deceased Reporter's Credit Cards

Danette Colbert, a 48-year-old woman from Slidell, Louisiana, was recently arrested in connection with the death of a Kansas City reporter, and she is now being looked at for other similar past incidents.

Super Bowl^® Reporter Found Dead

Adan Manzano was discovered unresponsive in his hotel room in Kenner, a New Orleans suburb, on Feb. 5. A reporter for KGKC Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports, Manzano had traveled to the New Orleans area to cover the Super Bowl. The day after the event, police said they were investigating whether Manzano might have been drugged before he died.

A Suspect Located

Surveillance cameras at the Kenner Comfort Inn recorded Colbert entering Manzano’s room and then leaving by herself, according to police. Investigators told WWL Louisiana the footage also showed Colbert and Manzano together on Bourbon Street just hours before his death. Bryan Lagarde, who runs the Project NOLA crime camera program, explained facial and clothing recognition software was used to track Colbert that night.

Colbert is being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, charged with stealing Manzano’s cellphone and credit cards. Police are investigating whether she may have committed similar crimes, as well.

“We’ve gotten information about similar acts that are coincidental in nature, and we’re trying to determine if they are connected to Danette Colbert in any form or fashion,” Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said, as reported by WWL Louisiana. “One of them was a fatality case that is of particular interest.”

Conley was referring to an unsolved death from Dec. 15 at a hotel on the 300 block of Dauphine Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

“Now I’m concerned when you might have one or two fatalities involving this kind of conduct,” Conley said, as reported by WWL Louisiana. “I think this is one we have to take a stand on.”

Bryan Lagarde, who runs the Project NOLA crime camera program, also mentioned that surveillance footage showed Colbert was often seen on Bourbon Street.

“We would see her engaging in similar activities in the French Quarter, late at night, walking Bourbon Street and meeting people,” he said, as reported by WWL Louisiana.

Criminal History

Police said Colbert has a long criminal history, including at least two previous incidents where she allegedly drugged victims and stole their credit cards. Conley has asked Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and state police to help with the investigation.

“I’m working hard, in coordination with NOPD, state police, and the attorney general’s office, to ensure that if she is responsible for one of these deaths, she never sees the light of day again,” Conley said, as reported by WWL Louisiana.

In connection with the ongoing investigation, Colbert is being held without bail. She is facing several charges, including bank fraud, computer fraud, and illegally transferring money. As police continue to gather information, they are working to determine if Colbert is connected to other cases, including the fatality from December. Authorities are determined to ensure justice is served, and if Colbert is responsible for any deaths, she will face serious consequences.

References: Police Investigating Whether Sports Reporter at Super Bowl was Drugged Before He Died | Slidell Woman Arrested in Connection with Kansas City Reporter’s Death, Suspected in Earlier French Quarter Case