A third individual has been apprehended in relation to the passing of a Kansas City sports journalist, who was found deceased in a New Orleans hotel room while covering the Super Bowl.
On Friday, authorities took Christian Anderson, 33, into custody. Anderson is accused of renting the car involved in the crime and offering “logistical support.” Messages suggest Anderson was actively engaged in the robbery that resulted in the death of 27-year-old Adan Manzano, as reported by NOLA.com.
According to CrimeOnline, Manzano was discovered unresponsive on February 6 in his hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana. He had journeyed there to cover the Super Bowl for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports. Law enforcement found his body while conducting a welfare check, since he did not attend a scheduled morning meeting.
Hotel security footage showed Manzano with a Slidell woman, Danette Colbert, 48, on the morning of February 5. Later, footage captured Colbert leaving his room alone. After leaving the hotel, she was seen using Manzano’s credit cards throughout the New Orleans area.
Colbert was arrested on charges of bank fraud, computer fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, access device fraud, and purse snatching.
Following an autopsy, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said Manzano died from a combination of alcohol and Xanax, along with “positional asphyxia.” He was found face down with his nose and mouth pressed into a pillow. Conley said Manzano’s blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit, and he had a “not insignificant amount” of Xanax in his system.
On March 18, Conley announced that Colbert had been charged with second-degree murder.
Ricky White, 34, another member of the group, faces similar property crime charges as Colbert, as well as principal to second-degree murder, according to NOLA.com.
Anderson is the third person arrested in what authorities believe is part of an ongoing criminal operation. Police said the trio collaborated to drug their victim, incapacitate him, and steal his credit cards and belongings.
Anderson faces charges of principal to simple robbery, purse snatching, access device fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud, and computer fraud.
[Feature Photo: Adam Manzano/LinkedIn]
