Louisiana hotel surveillance shows Super Bowl reporter just before death

The recent arrest of the so-called “Bourbon Street Hustler” suspect in connection with the death of Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano has sent shockwaves through the journalism community. The 27-year-old reporter, based in Kansas City, Missouri, had traveled to New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX when he was found dead in his hotel room on February 5.

Security footage from the Comfort Suites hotel in Kenner, Louisiana, where Manzano was staying, showed a woman named Danette Colbert entering his room and leaving alone shortly after. Colbert, described by Kenner police as a “career criminal,” is facing multiple charges including robbery, fraud, and fugitive counts.

Kenner police chief Keith Conley revealed that Manzano may have been drugged before his death, prompting authorities to investigate other suspicious deaths under similar circumstances. Detectives found one of Manzano’s credit cards missing from his room, which was used to check into the hotel, along with his cellphone.

Video surveillance footage captured Manzano arriving at his hotel room in the early hours of February 5, followed by Colbert entering and leaving multiple times. Detectives were able to track the location of the missing credit card, leading them to Colbert’s address. A search warrant executed at her residence uncovered a stolen firearm and narcotics, but it did not appear to be directly related to Manzano’s death.

Conley described Colbert as someone who “plays a confidence game” and has a history of crimes against individuals, including access device frauds and simple robberies. He noted that there are multiple cases on her criminal record involving credit card theft and personal information breaches.

Telemundo 39 paid tribute to Manzano, calling him “a true professional and a rising star” who made significant contributions to the local community through his work. The reporter’s tragic death comes just a year after his wife, Ashleigh Boyd, died in a car accident in Kansas.

The investigation into Manzano’s death is ongoing, with authorities awaiting the results of his autopsy to determine if additional charges will be filed. The shocking turn of events has left many in the journalism industry mourning the loss of a talented and dedicated reporter, while also highlighting the dangers journalists face while on assignment.