Woman arrested after sports reporter dies while covering Super Bowl in New Orleans
A Kansas City sports anchor and reporter died on Wednesday while he was on assignment covering the Super Bowl, KGKC Telemundo Kansas City said. A Louisiana woman has since been arrested in connection with his death, after surveillance video showed her leaving his hotel room, police said.
Adan Manzano was covering the NFL championship game, which is taking place this Sunday in New Orleans, for both Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports, KGKC said in a statement. The station did not list a cause of death and said it is cooperating with law enforcement while they investigate.
"As KGKC's Sports Anchor & Reporter, Adan was a true professional and a rising star, who exemplified excellence in his work," KGKC said. "We will deeply miss Adan and his passion for sports, and the contributions he made to the local community."
CBS affiliate WWL Louisiana reported that Manzano was 27.
A woman, Danette Colbert, was arrested Thursday, and Manzano's credit card and cell phone — which had gone missing from the hotel room where he had been staying — were found in her residence in Slidell, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said at a news conference Friday.
Surveillance video from the hotel where Manzano was staying — a Comfort Suites in Kenner, near New Orleans —showed Colbert entering Manzano's hotel room with him on the morning of Feb. 5. and later leaving the room alone, Conley said.
Colbert's criminal history involves two instances of drugging a victim and theft, Conley noted.
"Right now, the only crimes we have are property crimes," Conley said, although he noted that further evidence could lead to upgraded charges.
Local outlets reported that Manzano's wife, Ashleigh Boyd, who was a teacher, was killed in a car crash last April. The couple leaves behind their 2-year-old daughter, WWL reported.
