DANETTE COLBERT | ‘Bourbon Street Hustler’ | Woman With History of Drugging Men Is Arrested in Connection to Death of Telemundo Reporter Covering Super Bowl in New Orleans | Autographed Letter Signed

Danette Colbert. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). New Orleans, LA. April 29, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

In early 2025, as the city of New Orleans bustled with Super Bowl festivities, the brutal and unexpected death of a young sports journalist cast a long shadow over the celebrations. The investigation would uncover a chilling pattern of exploitation, deception, and calculated criminal behavior that reached far beyond the walls of a single hotel room. At the center of the tragedy was Danette Colbert, a woman with a long and twisted history of drugging and robbing unsuspecting men. Her arrest for the murder of Adan Manzano not only revealed a life built on manipulation and crime but exposed vulnerabilities in how law enforcement tracks repeat offenders across state lines. This story delves deep into the life, crimes, and legal downfall of Danette Colbert—a predator cloaked in charm and cunning.

The Black Widow of Bourbon Street: The Criminal Descent of Danette Colbert

Danette Colbert was born in 1976 in Slidell, Louisiana, a small suburban city nestled along the northeastern shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Her early life remains largely shrouded in obscurity, with few public records detailing her upbringing. What is known is that she grew up in a fractured environment, surrounded by instability, poverty, and familial dysfunction. Educationally, she did not progress beyond high school, and by her late teens, she had already begun accumulating a reputation in the New Orleans underground for being streetwise, manipulative, and dangerously persuasive.

Throughout her adulthood, Colbert’s employment history was as inconsistent as her aliases. She drifted between jobs in hospitality, nightlife, and escorting, often using these positions to meet potential targets. Over the years, she developed associations with petty criminals, con artists, and others who operated in the shadowy fringes of the service and sex industries. Her operations were mobile—first in New Orleans, then in Las Vegas, always targeting men she could charm, seduce, and ultimately drug. Colbert’s modus operandi was chillingly effective: she would gain the trust of her victims, spike their drinks with narcotics, and rob them blind while they were unconscious. In several cases, victims awoke confused, disoriented, and robbed not only of possessions but of their dignity and sense of safety.

Her criminal record spans over two decades and reads like the rap sheet of a seasoned predator. She was arrested multiple times for theft, fraud, drug possession, and battery. In Las Vegas, authorities connected her to several reports of hotel room robberies involving male tourists who were drugged and looted after chance encounters with Colbert or women matching her description. In New Orleans, similar stories surfaced—men in the French Quarter who woke up without their wallets, watches, or recollection of the night before.

But it wasn’t until the death of Adan Manzano in February 2025 that Colbert’s actions would result in a murder charge. Manzano, a 27-year-old sports reporter for Telemundo Kansas City, had traveled to New Orleans to cover Super Bowl LIX. He was young, ambitious, and quickly rising through the ranks of sports journalism. On the evening of February 4th, he checked into a hotel in Kenner, just outside the city. The next morning, hotel staff discovered his lifeless body in the room. An autopsy revealed the presence of narcotics in his system—foul play was immediately suspected.

Investigators turned to surveillance footage, where Colbert was seen entering the hotel with Manzano and later leaving alone. Phone records, eyewitness accounts, and a trove of digital breadcrumbs soon confirmed her involvement. Authorities issued a warrant and, within days, Colbert was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and Kenner Police. Her arrest was swift, but the case against her would take time to build. She was charged with second-degree murder, accused not only of drugging Manzano but administering a dose so potent that it proved fatal.

The legal proceedings began with Colbert’s arraignment in Jefferson Parish. She pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors, however, presented a damning case—highlighting not only the fatal incident involving Manzano but a clear and disturbing pattern of similar behavior in both Louisiana and Nevada. Her defense team attempted to shift blame, suggesting that Manzano may have taken the drugs voluntarily. Yet toxicology reports and witness testimony painted a different picture: one of premeditation, control, and reckless indifference to human life.

Public reaction to the case was immediate and visceral. The fact that a visiting journalist—young, successful, and beloved by colleagues—had been murdered in a city meant to celebrate one of the largest sports events in the world struck a deep nerve. Spanish-language media outlets covered the story intensely, and Manzano’s death prompted renewed scrutiny of tourist safety in New Orleans. Advocacy groups began lobbying for better hotel security protocols and more robust inter-jurisdictional tracking of repeat offenders like Colbert.

The psychological impact on Manzano’s family was devastating. His parents, originally from Mexico, gave a public statement decrying the senselessness of his death and calling for justice. Colleagues and friends remembered him as a brilliant storyteller and compassionate soul, his promising career cut brutally short.

Colbert, now held without bond, remains incarcerated as legal proceedings continue. If convicted, she faces life imprisonment. There is little indication of remorse, and no reports suggest she has participated in rehabilitation programs or expressed an intent to reform. Authorities believe she may be connected to other unsolved crimes, and investigations remain ongoing. Given her history and the calculated nature of her offenses, she is widely considered a continued threat to society.

The case of Danette Colbert serves as a grim reminder of how predators can hide in plain sight, exploiting gaps in oversight and preying on moments of vulnerability. Her arrest and prosecution, though a step toward justice, come too late for Adan Manzano and potentially others whose stories remain untold. The tragedy underscores the need for greater cooperation between jurisdictions, especially when known offenders cross state lines with relative ease.

And yet, in the strange world of true crime memorabilia, notoriety often becomes currency. Should any item bearing Colbert’s name or signature surface, its rarity and infamy would likely make it a coveted object among collectors of macabre artifacts—a chilling but real reflection of the darker corners of human fascination.

VIDEO: ‘Bourbon Street Hustler’ Charged with Murder in Reporter’s Death | https://youtu.be/_t38g31ffwA

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