A Louisiana jury convicted 49-year-old Danette Colbert of negligent homicide on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in connection with the death of Adan Manzano. Manzano, a 27-year-old reporter and anchor for Telemundo Kansas City, was found dead in a Kenner hotel room on February 5, 2025, while visiting the area to cover the Super Bowl.
Prosecutors alleged that Colbert and Rickey White, 35, operated a criminal enterprise for years in the New Orleans French Quarter. According to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office, the pair lured victims with the promise of sex, used drugs to incapacitate them, and then stole their bank cards and phones to drain their accounts. An autopsy determined that Manzano died from a combination of alcohol and Xanax, which caused him to stop breathing while lying face down on a pillow.
Both Colbert and White were convicted of racketeering, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in Louisiana. While prosecutors sought manslaughter convictions for both defendants, which carry up to 40 years, the jury instead found Colbert guilty of negligent homicide and acquitted White of the manslaughter charge. The jury deliberated for five and a half hours before delivering the verdict.
The legal outcome directly affects Colbert, who faces a maximum of 10 years for negligent homicide in addition to the racketeering sentence, and White, who remains convicted of racketeering despite his acquittal on the homicide-related charge. The case also relied on the testimony of 35-year-old Christian Anderson, who received a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to simple robbery and access device fraud.
The conviction provides a resolution for the Telemundo Kansas City newsroom and Manzano’s family, who were unable to attend the trial in person. Assistant District Attorney Jenny Voss stated that justice was served despite the "difficult case" and "complicated law" involved. The next steps in the legal process are scheduled for late September 2026, when both Colbert and White will appear in court to receive their sentences.