A Telemundo journalist died before covering the Super Bowl; Police investigate the link of a “professional criminal”

CNN
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Adan Manzano was in New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl Lix, but the sports reporter was found dead in his hotel room before the initial kick. Police tries to find out what happened and what had to do with his death, if he had something to do, with “a career criminal” that, according to the police, is known for carrying out fraud schemes in the French neighborhood of the city.

The 27 -year -old sports reporter worked for the Telemundo Local Station in Kansas City for almost four years and arrived in New Orleans to inform about the great game.

The Kansas City Chiefs would end up without achieving their dream of a historic third consecutive championship of the Super Bowl on Sunday, losing to the Eagles of Philadelphia, but Marzano never reported on the result of the game. On Wednesday afternoon, days before the event, he was found dead in his hotel room in Kenner’s suburb, in New Orleans, Louisiana, according to the police.

The researchers study the possibility that Manzano was drugged before his death, police said Monday.

Manzano was seen entering his room at a Comfort Suites hotel with a woman that the police later determined that Danette Colbert was around 4:35 am on Wednesday, as the hotel security cameras showed. According to Kenner police, Colbert left shortly after and then returned. At 6 am, police said, he left again and did not return. Manzano was never seen leaving the room.

Colbert and Manzano had gathered early Wednesday in New Orleans and were seen together in several places in the city, according to the police.

Kenner’s Chief of Police, Keith Conley, told reporters on Monday that investigators “have two or three pieces of information, video images in New Orleans that she was with him in the French neighborhood.”

Police arrived at the hotel on Wednesday after Manzano’s body was found in his room. The investigators reviewed the images of the security chamber and discovered that the credit card that Manzano used to register at the hotel was missing, along with a cell phone, the police said.

Colbert, 48, was arrested in New Orleans on Thursday night and accused of “crimes against property, fraud and crimes related to robbery,” said the police, and a search in his house in near Slidell, Louisiana discovered the missing phone along with the credit card she had used in New Orleans. The researchers also found narcotics and a stolen firearm, although they said they do not believe that the firearm is related to Manzano’s death.

In a statement, Telemundo described Manzano as “a true professional and a rising star, who exemplified excellence in his work.”

“Sports journalism has lost a great man. … More than an unmatched journalist, he was a loving father, a friend, a brother and a great human being, ”said Telemundo.

Manzano’s wife died in a car accident last year, and he had a 2 -year -old daughter who lives with her in -laws in Topeka, Kansas, according to Steve Downing, general manager of Telemundo Kansas City.

Colbert has what Conley called “a history and a rather broad background sheet”, which include “accusations of drug drugs, currency theft, fraudulent use of credit and debit cards and other financial crimes,” according to the police.

Currently, Colbert does not face positions for Manzano’s death. It is stopped at the Correctional Center of the Jefferson parish waiting for criminal procedures for charges related to robbery and fraud, police said. It is unknown if Colbert has legal representation; CNN has communicated with the Office of the District Prosecutor of the Jefferson Parish for additional details.

“While Colbert was initially accused of crimes against property, including crimes related to fraud and robbery, researchers now work closely collaboration with forensic experts and the Forensic Office of the Jefferson parish to determine if additional charges can be justified” Said Police in a press release on Monday.

The police are still waiting for the results of the Manzano autopsy, and CNN has communicated with the forensic office to obtain information.

“Toxicological reports are still pending; We hope you take several weeks to be available. However, the researchers explore all the evidence available in this case, including the possibility that Manzano has been drugged before his death. Colbert has an arrest history that includes similar accusations that involve drugs to facilitate theft, ”said the police in the statement.

No drugs were found in the Manzano hotel room, according to the police.

Conley described Colbert as a “professional criminal” who was previously accused of at least two other similar incidents: one in 2022 in Nevada and a second incident in Jefferson Parish in Louisiana. It is not clear how and if those cases were resolved.

Police said that since Colbert’s arrest, several people contacted them claiming to be victims of similar crimes or to inform deaths in similar suspicious circumstances, although it is unknown if they are related to Colbert.

“I don’t know where all this will end,” said Conley. “We are going to let the tests take us to the final result and we will not speculate, but you know that this kind of thing can happen if you are alone in any city.”

Shawn Nottingham of CNN contributed to this report.