Authorities have arrested and charged two men with the fatal shooting of Adan Manzano. The 27-year-old was a news reporter and anchor for Telemundo in Kansas City, Missouri. In the early morning of February 5, authorities found Manzano dead in a hotel room. The place was Kenner, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. His tragic death leaves many questions as to how he got to that point.
The autopsy report largely confirmed that Manzano had died face down on a pillow. He suffocated after consuming a deadly combination of alcohol and the downer Xanax. A look at Manzano’s medical records showed he’d never been prescribed Xanax or any other depressants. This find led investigators to investigate the activities of individuals who were in contact with him before his death.
After the investigation, detectives charged Michael Colbert with second-degree murder and theft in her death. Colbert was recorded on security camera footage leaving Manzano’s hotel room, and Xanax was later found in Colbert’s home. Colbert on multiple occasions used Manzano’s credit cards to make purchases including $450 at a gas station. His culinary offerings expanded even further with his shopping sprees in New Orleans.
In response to the charges, an attorney representing Colbert stated, “I don’t think he’s guilty of the other crimes,” suggesting that the evidence against his client may not be as solid as law enforcement claims.
In May, the federal authorities arrested Rickey White in Florida on other robbery and fraud charges related to Manzano’s death. After he was extradited back to Louisiana, White was charged with second-degree murder. This past Friday, Kenner police announced their aggressive investigation had paid off. Their work revealed that under Louisiana law, individuals can be charged with murder for distributing drugs that lead to overdose death or for engaging in other crimes such as robbery that lead to death.
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley highlighted the connection between the two suspects, stating, “correspondence and information where they were going back and forth. So, we think they were working hand-in-hand in concert with each other.”
While the story continues to unfold, Colbert and White are both awaiting trial on the charges filed against them. The case has drawn a great deal of media attention. This is primarily due to Manzano’s high profile in journalism and the events of his death.
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