Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old sports anchor and reporter for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports, died on Wednesday, February 5, while on assignment covering the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana. This tragedy occurs less than a year after the untimely death of his wife in a car accident. They are survived by a young daughter.
Manzano was found dead in his hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana, just outside New Orleans. The Jefferson Parish coroner’s office has completed an autopsy, but the cause of death is still pending further testing results. The Kenner Police Department is handling the investigation and initial reports show no signs of trauma.
On Friday, February 7, the investigation entered a new phase with the arrest of a woman suspected of using Manzano’s credit card. According to a report by Fox8, the woman has a criminal history of credit card fraud and allegations of drugging men. Surveillance footage reportedly shows her in Manzano’s company and leaving his hotel room.
The suspect, identified as Slidell resident Danette Colbert, known as the “Bourbon Street Hustler,” has been charged with fraud and theft according to a Kenner police spokesperson’s email statement. The spokesperson also stated that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed.
As investigators wait for the results of Manzano’s toxicology report, a man who claims to be a past victim of Colbert has come forward to share details of his harrowing experience. David Butler alleges that Colbert drugged him and abandoned him in 2021, leaving him afraid that she might harm someone else.
On November 5, 2021, Butler visited the French Quarter to relax after completing a renovation project. At approximately 1 a.m., he encountered Colbert and another individual. They were standing outside chatting with a group of people and invited him to join them for a drink. Butler agreed and went along.
He recalls leaving his first drink on the table while ordering a second one. Shortly after, he began to feel unwell. As Butler remembered, “When I began drinking my second beverage, I started feeling unusual within just a few minutes.” He described feeling lightheaded, as though everything around him was dimming, and realizing something was seriously wrong.
Recognizing he needed to leave, Butler mentioned that Colbert came after him and offered to assist him in getting home. According to Butler, she helped him into an SUV, and they drove away. “My ability to make decisions was extremely compromised at that point,” Butler stated.
His project manager discovered him unconscious at the construction site after his family was unable to get in touch with him. Upon regaining consciousness, instead of seeking medical attention despite feeling drugged, he immediately began reviewing his financial accounts. “I found several emails showing that cryptocurrency had been withdrawn from my bank account,” Butler explained.
It was determined that Colbert had taken advantage of his biometrics to unlock his iPhone while he was incapacitated.
Butler reported that Colbert stole a total of $134,000 by accessing his retirement account and making credit card charges. He traced the stolen funds to a cryptocurrency account with a distinctive username, which ultimately linked back to Colbert’s public Facebook profile.
Butler promptly reached out to the New Orleans Police Department. “When I encountered Ms. Colbert and her associate, there was no indication of anything related to prostitution,” Butler stated. “Nothing appeared inappropriate or unusual in that regard.”
Colbert was later apprehended, and in October, a jury convicted her of theft, computer fraud, and unlawful money transfers. Despite the conviction, she did not serve time in prison. The judge decided to suspend her sentence, placing her on probation and requiring her to pay restitution.
Telemundo Kansas City remembered Manzano as an accomplished professional and a rising talent, whose dedication and skill showcased his excellence in his work. They conveyed that his love for sports and his influence on the local community would be deeply missed.
Manzano’s wife, Ashleigh LeeAnn Boyd Manzano-Aguilar, a 24-year-old second-grade teacher, died ten months prior in a head-on car collision in Topeka, Kansas. The accident also severely injured an infant passenger and another vehicle’s driver. In her obituary, Ashleigh was remembered as an immensely kind, caring, and beautiful person whose lively personality illuminated every room she entered.
CiCi Rojas, Tico Sports president, described Manzano as an “enthusiastic and energetic team player who was well-liked and respected.” Rojas continued, saying that Manzano was “a talented and professional broadcaster” who was “a devoted father to his young daughter, a helpful colleague, and a loyal friend.”
Manzano, originally from Mexico City, earned his degree at Kansas State University and had recently started his role as a sideline reporter for the Chiefs Television Crew at the start of the last NFL season. He had been working with Telemundo for three years and had recently started anchoring in addition to reporting.
Dedicated to expanding football’s appeal among Spanish-speaking audiences, Manzano noted in a previous interview with KSNT-TV that the “Kansas City Chiefs are growing so fast in Mexico City.” Manzano highlighted the increasing popularity of the Kansas City Chiefs in his native city, emphasizing the significance of engaging with the Spanish-speaking community.
Before his death, Manzano had already submitted several stories from Super Bowl LIX, including coverage from opening night and interviews with fans in New Orleans. He was scheduled to serve as a sideline reporter for the Spanish broadcast crew during Sunday’s game.
The Kansas City community expressed sorrow over his loss, with the mayor describing him as “so young and full of energy” and a frequent presence at almost every community event.
His death has profoundly affected his colleagues at the close-knit Telemundo KC newsroom, who plan to pay tribute to him in their broadcasts. The station is also cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation into his death.
Manzano and his late wife leave behind their two-year-old daughter, Eleanor. Both Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports have pledged their support to his family during this challenging time, as well as their commitment to honoring his memory.