Telemundo reporter Adam Mananzo was captured on hotel security footage walking into a hotel room with Danette Colbert, known as the “Bourbon Street Hustler,” just hours before his untimely death. Colbert is currently under investigation in connection with another similar recent fatality.
Manzano, 27, was seen smiling as he followed Colbert into the same New Orleans hotel room where he was later found dead during his coverage of the Super Bowl.
Investigators discovered Manzano’s cellphone and credit card in Colbert’s possession, prompting a probe into whether she drugged and robbed the reporter.
Colbert is also being looked into for the death of Maryland man John Jenkins, 55, who was found deceased from cocaine and ethanol toxicity in a French Quarter hotel on Dec. 15, as reported by NOLA.com.
Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick mentioned, “We suspect she may be related to the case,” referring to the earlier incident that was initially deemed an accidental death.
Jenkins, who was in town for a football game between the Saints and Washington Commanders, raised concerns among friends who requested a wellness check when he failed to appear. He was discovered unresponsive in his hotel room.
Kenner detectives, along with the Louisiana Attorney General’s office and State Police Troop Nola, are investigating Jenkins’ death and any potential links to Colbert.
After Manzano’s death, several other alleged victims of Colbert have come forward, including David Butler, 52, who encountered Colbert in the French Quarter.
Butler mentioned that Colbert offered him a drink that left him disoriented and needing assistance to return home. The last thing he recalls is being ushered into a black Suburban vehicle by Colbert.
Butler was found passed out on the floor by a property manager, realizing his phone, wallet, and credit cards had been stolen, with unauthorized charges made at Best Buy and Walmart. Additionally, over $80,000 from his cryptocurrency account was missing.
Court records from Nevada reveal that Colbert faced charges of grand larceny and administering a drug to facilitate a felony in 2022, although both cases were dismissed due to the victims’ refusal to testify.
Colbert was convicted in October of computer fraud, theft, and illegal transmission of monetary funds, leading to a probation sentence and restitution order by Orleans Criminal District Judge Nandi Campbell.
Butler criticized the lenient sentence and believed Manzano’s death could have been prevented with a stricter punishment, stating, “Had the court acted decisively by incarcerating Ms. Colbert or enforcing stricter conditions for her release, it is possible Mr. Manzano would still be alive today.”
