Woman charged in KC reporter’s death wrongly on probation, Louisiana AG said

NEW ORLEANS (KCTV) - A woman charged in connection with the death of Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano should not have been on probation at the time, according to the Louisiana Attorney General.

Manzano was found dead in his hotel room in February. He was in New Orleans covering the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports.

Adan Manzano, a reporter with Telemundo KC and Tico Sports, died while on assignment in New... — Adan Manzano, a reporter with Telemundo KC and Tico Sports, died while on assignment in New Orleans.(Telemundo KC)

Danette Colbert, 48, is charged with with fraud after New Orleans-area detectives said she used a credit card that belonged to Manzano. Detectives said there is surveillance video showing Manzano and Colbert together in the French Quarter and at Manzano’s hotel.

Surveillance video shows Danette Colbert and Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano at a... — Surveillance video shows Danette Colbert and Kansas City sports reporter Adan Manzano at a hotel before he was found dead in New Orleans.(Kenner PD)

The district attorney and police have said Colbert has an extensive history in the New Orleans area as well as in Las Vegas.

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This week, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said her office will be handling Colber’s case going forward. She also said a motion has been filed to correct what she called “an illegal sentence” involving Colbert.

She made the comment regarding Colbert’s criminal history and a crime she previously committed.

“Our position is the original sentence was not eligible for probation. The habitual offender notice would attach to resentencing," Murrill said in the statement.

Louisiana’s habitual offender law imposes harsher penalties for repeat offenders, especially those convicted of multiple felonies.

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A date for Colbert’s resentencing is not yet set. The AG’s office declined to provide details of the original crime, or the sentence Colbert received.

Kenner police announced that they have arrested Danette Colbert, of Slidell, after it was... — Kenner police announced that they have arrested Danette Colbert, of Slidell, after it was discovered that she was allegedly using Adan Manzano’s credit card at several stores in the New Orleans area.(Kenner police)

Court records do show Colbert was convicted in October of computer fraud, theft and illegal transmission of monetary funds. In that case, a victim accused Colbert of drugging him and stealing thousands of dollars from him. She was sentenced to probation.

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It is not clear, however, if that is the case the AG referred to in her statement.

The Manzano case remains open. Prosecutors said additional charges could be filed against Colbert, depending on the full toxicology report. The report is expected to be released in coming weeks, according to investigators.