Telemundo reporter discovered useless in New Orleans resort, fraud suspect arrested

NEW ORLEANS: Police are investigating the loss of life of a tv reporter who was in New Orleans to cowl the Tremendous Bowl and on Friday introduced the arrest of a lady they are saying used his bank card.

Adan Manzano, 27, an anchor and reporter for Telemundo in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, was discovered useless Wednesday in his resort room in Kenner, a suburb simply exterior New Orleans, police mentioned.

Police on Thursday night arrested Louisiana resident Danette Colbert. She is 48, based on public data. Colbert is dealing with 4 felony costs, in addition to a misdemeanor fraud and theft cost, Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick mentioned.

She additionally faces a state felony cost of possession of a stolen firearm, however Kenner Police don’t imagine it’s associated to Manzano’s case, St. Tammany Sheriff’s Workplace Lt. Suzanne Carboni mentioned.

Colbert was seen on safety video footage arriving with Manzano at his resort room round 5 a.m. the day of his loss of life after which leaving with out him about an hour later, police mentioned. She used Manzano’s bank card at a number of shops within the space and authorities later positioned Manzano’s bank card and cellphone at Colbert’s residence in Slidell, northeast of New Orleans they mentioned.

Police additionally uncovered narcotics at Colbert’s residence, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley mentioned Friday throughout a press convention. Investigators imagine Colbert acted alone, he mentioned.

Conley described Colbert as a “profession felony” identified to New Orleans police for “fraud schemes.”

“Everyone ought to pay attention to their environment,” Conley mentioned. “This brings to mild that there are individuals on the market that prey on different individuals and convey them into their confidence and victimize them.”

A telephone quantity affiliated with Colbert’s residence was disconnected and nobody responded to a message despatched to an e mail related together with her.

Police are awaiting the outcomes of the coroner’s full post-mortem, which is able to decide whether or not Manzano’s loss of life was a murder, Conley mentioned.

The coroner’s workplace is conducting toxicology checks, and outcomes are anticipated to take three to 4 weeks, Jefferson Parish Director of Forensic Operations Tim Genevay mentioned. There was no apparent bodily trauma discovered on Manzano’s physique, he added.

Telemundo Kansas Metropolis Basic Supervisor Steve Downing mentioned Manzano was a “rising star” and “true skilled” — a bilingual tv anchor and reporter who beloved sports activities, and had coated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs ‘ previous two Tremendous Bowl victories. He hoped to see a file third straight win Sunday.

“You’ll at all times see him with a smile on his face, he loved the work that he did,” Downing mentioned. “He was very dedicated to serving the local people by offering them the very best in sports activities information.”

Manzano was born in Mexico Metropolis and later moved to Kansas, NBC affiliate KSNT reported.

He leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter. He had been elevating her on his personal with assist from household after his spouse died final yr in a automobile accident, Downing mentioned.