A suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the tragic passing of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano. Manzano died in his hotel room while reporting on the Super Bowl LIX events in New Orleans this week.

The police in Kenner, Louisiana announced the arrest of 48-year-old Danette Colbert. She was apprehended after being caught using the late reporter’s credit card at various stores in the New Orleans area. This information was detailed in a police report disclosed to DailyMail.com. Colbert was taken into custody on Thursday evening.

Surveillance footage revealed Colbert’s presence with Manzano on Wednesday morning. Later, she was spotted leaving his hotel a few hours before he was discovered unresponsive in his room that same afternoon. Initial examinations of Manzano’s body did not show any apparent signs of physical harm. Authorities have noted that it is unclear at this point whether he was drugged, as clarifications from a toxicology report may require some time.

As of Friday morning, Colbert is only being charged for property crimes, such as bank fraud, computer fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, access device fraud and purse snatching, said Kenner deputy police chief Mark McCormick. However, as the department noted in its release, the investigation is ongoing. 

A resident of Slidell, Louisiana, Colbert was arrested in January of 2022 for allegedly drugging a man and stealing $50,000 from him on the Las Vegas Strip. Colbert would deny drugging the man, but was charged in Nevada again in May and July on similar allegations. The victims in these cases did not die as a result of their reported drugging. 

Furthermore, she was also booked for allegedly driving 100mph near a school in the Las Vegas area in August of 2022 and a 2014 report by NoLa.com claims Colbert was arrested for second-degree battery and witness intimidation. Authorities say Colbert has convictions in Jefferson and Orleans Parish for targeting tourists, using their credit cards and possessing stolen goods. 

Police in Kenner, Louisiana say they have arrested Danette Colbert (pictured) after she was found using the deceased reporter’s credit card at several stores in the New Orleans area

Adan Manzano, a reporter covering the Super Bowl in New Orleans, died on Wednesday

‘Obviously, there are allegations in [Colbert’s] past criminal history that make us consider that,’ McCormick said, as quoted by NoLa.com. ‘But we don’t have anything at this point.’ 

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. 

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 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.