Louisiana Police Arrest Third Suspect in Connection to Super Bowl Reporter Adan Manzano’s Hotel Death

Authorities in Louisiana have announced the arrest of a third suspect in connection with the high-profile murder of 27-year-old sports reporter Adan Manzano. Manzano, who worked for Telemundo in Kansas City, Missouri, was in New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX when he was found dead on the morning of February 5 at the Comfort Suites hotel in Kenner. An autopsy revealed that Manzano died from the combined toxic effects of Xanax and alcohol, with investigators noting he was discovered "face-down in a pillow with no lividity around his nose and mouth," raising suspicions about the circumstances of his death.

The investigation has so far led to multiple arrests. The first to be apprehended was Danette Colbert, 48, known on social media as the "Bourbon Street Hustler" due to a long track record of targeting men in New Orleans' French Quarter and reportedly committing similar crimes in Las Vegas. Her alleged accomplice, Ricky White, was also detained. The latest development came on Friday, when police confirmed the arrest of Christian Anderson, a 33-year-old New Orleans resident, for his suspected role in orchestrating the events that resulted in Manzano’s death.

According to police, Colbert and Manzano met in the French Quarter during the early hours of February 5. Surveillance footage shows them entering Manzano's hotel room together around 4:30 a.m. Colbert then left twice before exiting for good, after which Manzano was not seen alive again. Detectives quickly discovered one of Manzano’s credit cards was missing, prompting a search for its activity that ultimately led them to Colbert and her associates.

The group is believed to have conspired to drug Manzano and rob him of his financial assets. Investigators allege that Anderson provided crucial support to the operation by both renting the vehicle used by Colbert and helping to manage logistics before and after the crime. Records indicate he was also involved in attempts to benefit financially from Manzano’s stolen accounts.

White faces a range of charges including simple robbery, multiple counts of fraud, and has since been charged with murder in connection with the case. Anderson is currently being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on charges ranging from principal to simple robbery and purse snatching, to bank and computer fraud. Both Colbert and White remain in custody at the same facility.

Investigators uncovered evidence through search warrants, text messages, and digital communications that suggests a pattern of coordinated criminal activity among the trio, primarily involving the drugging and robbing of unsuspecting victims in the area. Further, communications recovered between Anderson and Colbert after the crime signal an ongoing collaborative enterprise aimed at exploiting and targeting new victims.

Colbert was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison for unrelated charges including theft and computer fraud stemming from a separate 2024 case. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information—especially given the sensitive nature of these crimes and the reluctance of some victims to come forward—to assist in the ongoing investigation. Police further indicated that a search at Colbert’s residence turned up a stolen firearm and narcotics, though neither appeared directly related to Manzano's death.

The arrests mark significant progress in a case that has drawn widespread attention in the wake of the tragic loss of a young journalist. Investigators continue to piece together the group’s suspected involvement in other similar crimes, both in Louisiana and beyond, and are determined to see justice served for Adan Manzano and any other potential victims.