Toxicology Report Released for Super Bowl Reporter Found Dead

A shocking new twist has emerged in the mysterious death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano, who was found lifeless in his New Orleans hotel room just days before he was set to cover the Super Bowl. A preliminary toxicology report confirms that Manzano had Alprazolam—commonly known as Xanax—in his system, authorities revealed Tuesday.

Manzano, 27, worked for Telemundo Kansas City and was last seen on security footage being led into his hotel room by the notorious “Bourbon Street Hustler,” Danette Colbert. Just one day after his body was discovered, police arrested Colbert, 48, at her home, where she was found in possession of Manzano’s credit card and cellphone. Officers also located a stash of Xanax at her residence.

A Web of Crime

Police suspect Manzano was drugged before his death. “There’s no indication that Mr. Manzano had a prescription for Xanax,” Detective Jeffrey Fitzmorris testified at a Jefferson Parish courtroom, according to local reports.

Colbert has a long history of targeting unsuspecting men, authorities say. In 2021, David Butler, 52, reported being drugged and robbed after Colbert and an accomplice approached him for drinks in the French Quarter. “I felt disoriented after finishing my cocktail,” Butler told NBC News. “She ushered me into a black Suburban, and that’s the last thing I remember.”

Court records from Nevada show Colbert was charged in 2022 with grand larceny and administering a drug to aid in the commission of a felony. Both cases were dropped after victims refused to testify. Despite her record, she avoided prison time last year when convicted of fraud and theft—walking away with probation and a restitution order instead of a jail sentence.

A Deadly Encounter

Security footage from Manzano’s hotel captures his final moments. The young reporter, carrying a plastic shopping bag, was seen walking closely behind Colbert before entering the room where he would later be found dead. Hours after his death, Colbert was caught on surveillance cameras using his credit card at various stores across New Orleans.

At a February 7 press conference, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley confirmed that investigators were waiting on toxicology results to determine whether Manzano had been drugged. The confirmation of Xanax in his system strengthens suspicions that he may have been another victim of Colbert’s pattern of crime.

Despite her criminal history, Colbert’s defense attorney argued that past allegations should not influence this case. However, the judge overseeing her bond hearing disagreed, calling her “a danger to society” and denying her release.

Justice for Manzano?

As Manzano’s family and colleagues mourn his tragic and untimely death, the case raises serious concerns about habitual offenders slipping through the cracks of the justice system. How did a woman with a documented history of drugging and robbing men manage to avoid serious punishment for years? And why was she free to roam the streets of New Orleans just days before the biggest sporting event of the year?

While investigators continue their probe, one thing is certain: Adan Manzano deserved better. And the public deserves answers.