Louisiana Jury Convicts Woman in Death of Telemundo Reporter, Acquits Accomplice of Manslaughter

Key points

• Danette Colbert, 49, was convicted of negligent homicide and racketeering; Rickey White, 35, was acquitted of manslaughter but convicted of racketeering.
• Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo Kansas City reporter, was found dead in a hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana, on February 5, 2025, just before the Super Bowl.
• The cause of death was determined to be the combined toxic effects of Xanax and alcohol, along with positional asphyxia.
• Prosecutors described a criminal enterprise where Colbert and White drugged victims in the French Quarter to steal their money and personal information.
• Christian Anderson, a third defendant, pleaded guilty to simple robbery and access device fraud, receiving a six-year prison sentence in exchange for testifying against Colbert and White.
• Sentencing for Colbert and White is scheduled for September 28, 2026.

Background

This case involves the death of Adan Manzano, a sports anchor for KGKC, the Telemundo affiliate in Kansas City, who was in New Orleans to cover the 2025 Super Bowl between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Manzano had previously lost his wife in a car accident in 2024 and left behind a young daughter. The trial took place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, where Colbert and White faced charges related to a broader pattern of drugging and robbing individuals. The case highlights the legal complexities surrounding the distinction between manslaughter and negligent homicide in cases involving drug-assisted robbery.

How outlets are covering it

The New York Times and The Guardian reported that the jury convicted Colbert of negligent homicide and racketeering, while acquitting White of manslaughter but convicting him of racketeering. WDSU emphasized that the jury deliberated for over five hours and that prosecutors presented evidence of 80 stolen driver's licenses and Social Security cards, arguing that Manzano was one of many victims. NOLA.com noted that the defense argued the relationship between Colbert and White did not constitute racketeering, characterizing them as petty thieves. The Guardian highlighted that Colbert had a prior 25-year prison sentence for drugging and robbing another man in 2021, while WDSU reported that Colbert was found to have Xanax in her home in Slidell, Louisiana. All sources agreed that Christian Anderson pleaded guilty and testified against the other defendants.

Why it matters

The verdict underscores the legal challenges in prosecuting cases where a victim's death results from a combination of drug use and robbery rather than direct intent to kill. The racketeering convictions suggest a pattern of organized criminal activity targeting tourists in New Orleans, raising concerns about safety in the city's French Quarter. The case also highlights the impact of the death on Manzano's family and colleagues, as well as the broader implications for the treatment of journalists and public figures in criminal cases.

What to watch

Sentencing for Danette Colbert and Rickey White is scheduled for September 28, 2026. Colbert faces up to 10 years in prison for negligent homicide and up to 50 years for racketeering. White faces up to 50 years for racketeering. The family of Adan Manzano was unable to attend the trial, and Telemundo Kansas City has not yet issued a public statement regarding the verdict.