Super Bowl Reporter Adan Manzano's Death: Woman Who Drugged and Robbed Men Convicted in Shock Jury Verdict

A Louisiana jury convicted a woman of negligent homicide Thursday in the death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano, who was in the New Orleans area to cover the Super Bowl when he died in his hotel room last year.

Danette Colbert, 49, was also convicted of racketeering, as was her alleged accomplice, 35-year-old Rickey White, according to Paul Purpura, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office. White, however, was found not guilty of manslaughter, the more serious charge prosecutors had sought against both defendants.

Manzano Died Before Super Bowl

Manzano, 27, was a reporter and anchor for Telemundo based in Kansas City, Missouri. He was visiting the New Orleans area in February last year to cover Super Bowl LIX when he was found dead in his hotel room in Kenner, a New Orleans suburb.

According to reports, Colbert was the last person seen leaving Manzano's room. An autopsy found that Manzano died face down on a pillow and was unable to breathe after ingesting a combination of alcohol and Xanax, a depressant. He was found dead days before the Super Bowl was held in New Orleans.

The case centred on allegations that Colbert and White had spent years targeting people in New Orleans' French Quarter. Prosecutors said the pair attracted victims by promising sex before using drugs to incapacitate them and taking money from their bank accounts using stolen phones and cards.

Prosecutors Detail Alleged Criminal Enterprise

Colbert and White were both convicted of racketeering. In Louisiana, the offence carries a maximum sentence of 50 years.

Prosecutors had described Colbert as presenting herself as a prostitute or 'party girl,' while White allegedly acted as her pimp, provided security and helped identify and rob victims.

Court documents also contained years of text messages involving Colbert, White and another man, Christian Anderson, discussing the use of drugs to incapacitate victims and steal from them.

Anderson, 35, testified against Colbert and White after his charges were reduced to simple robbery and access device fraud. Court records show he pleaded guilty to those charges and received a six-year prison sentence.

His attorney, Bradley Phillips, said Anderson had been cooperating with authorities since his arrest and had expressed remorse for his past conduct.

Manzano's Credit Card Used After Death

The evidence presented in the case also included allegations involving Manzano's financial accounts. AP reported that Colbert later used Manzano's credit card at a New Orleans-area petrol station and other stores. Her arrest record also contained allegations involving drugging men and theft.

Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Jenny Voss said Colbert's negligent homicide conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Prosecutors had sought a manslaughter conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years.

Voss said the prosecution was pleased with the verdict and that the jury had carefully considered the evidence. Colbert's attorney, Stavros Panagoulopoulos, and White's attorney, Leo Caillier III, did not immediately respond to AP's requests for comment.

Manzano's Family Could Not Attend Trial

Manzano's family was unable to attend the trial, according to Voss. He had worked for Telemundo Kansas City, where Steve Downing is the general manager.

Manzano's death came a year after another devastating loss: his wife had died in a car accident. The couple left behind a toddler daughter. Colbert and White were scheduled to be sentenced in late September, according to the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office.

The convictions bring a legal conclusion to a case that began with the death of a young journalist who had travelled to New Orleans for one of the biggest sporting events in the United States. The jury's decision found Colbert guilty of negligent homicide and racketeering, while White was convicted of racketeering but acquitted of manslaughter.