A suspect has been arrested in connection to the death of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano, who passed away while covering Super Bowl LIX festivities in New Orleans this week.
Police in Kenner, Louisiana say they have arrested Danette Colbert after she was found using the deceased reporter’s credit card at several stores in the New Orleans area, according to a police report provided to DailyMail.com.
Security footage shows Colbert with Manzano on Wednesday morning before Colbert is seen leaving Manzano’s hotel hours later, according to investigators.
Manzano was ultimately found unresponsive in his hotel.
Colbert is currently only booked on property crimes, such as fraud and theft, according to police.
Kenner police are asking anyone with information on the case to call the Criminal Investigations Division at (504) 712-2222 or Crime Stoppers at (504) 822-1111.
Adan Manzano, a reporter covering the Super Bowl in New Orleans, died on Wednesday
A 27-year-old Mexico native who lived in Topeka, Kansas, Manzano was on the ground in New Orleans working as a sports anchor and sideline reporter.
A statement from KGKC Telemundo Kansas City read: [Adan] was a true professional and a rising star, who exemplified excellence in his work.
‘We will deeply miss Adan and his passion for sports, and the contributions he made to the local community. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.’
No cause of death has yet been announced.
WIBW reported the news that Manzano’s wife Ashleigh died last April at the age of 24, in a car crash that also seriously injured their infant daughter.
The crash occurred in Topeka, where Manzano and his young family were based.
In Manzano’s Instagram bio, he pays tribute to his late wife with the message: ‘Always in my heart Ashleigh Boyd’.
Manzano (seen this week in New Orleans) was described by his employers as a ‘rising star’
Manzano is pictured with his late wife and his young daughter on her third birthday
Manzano is a Mexico native, but went to college at Kansas State before taking a local job
Manzano is said to have graduated from Kansas State University and joined the Chiefs’ television crew at the beginning of the 2024 season as a sideline reporter.
He was covering his third straight Super Bowl, having also been in Arizona and Las Vegas before this month’s visit to New Orleans, with the Chiefs this year going for the three-peat.
On Monday night, Manzano posted photos from the Super Bowl’s opening night at the Superdome, where he was on duty interviewing the players.
He was also a regular soccer reporter, covering Sporting Kansas City, and of Big 12 basketball and the Kansas Jayhawks.
In New Orleans this week, he had already interviewed Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and other Chiefs players.
