A third arrest has been made in connection with the death of a Kansas City sports reporter who died in a New Orleans hotel room while in town to cover the Super Bowl.
On Friday, police arrested Christian Anderson, 33. Anderson is accused of renting the vehicle used during the crime and providing “logistical support.” Text messages reportedly show Anderson played an “active role” in the heist that led to the death of Adan Manzano, 27, according to NOLA.com.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Manzano was found unresponsive on February 6 in his hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana. He had traveled to report on the Super Bowl for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports. Police found his body during a welfare check after he failed to show up for a morning appointment.
Hotel security footage showed Manzano with a Slidell woman, Danette Colbert, 48, on the morning of February 5. Later, footage captured Colbert leaving his room alone. After leaving the hotel, she was seen using Manzano’s credit cards throughout the New Orleans area.
Colbert was arrested on charges of bank fraud, computer fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, access device fraud, and purse snatching.
Following an autopsy, Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said Manzano died from a combination of alcohol and Xanax, along with “positional asphyxia.” He was found face down with his nose and mouth pressed into a pillow. Conley said Manzano’s blood alcohol content was three times the legal limit, and he had a “not insignificant amount” of Xanax in his system.
On March 18, Conley announced that Colbert had been charged with second-degree murder.
Ricky White, 34, another member of the group, faces similar property crime charges as Colbert, as well as principal to second-degree murder, according to NOLA.com.
Anderson is the third person arrested in what authorities believe is part of an ongoing criminal operation. Police said the trio collaborated to drug their victim, incapacitate him, and steal his credit cards and belongings.
Anderson faces charges of principal to simple robbery, purse snatching, access device fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud, and computer fraud.
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[Feature Photo: Adam Manzano/LinkedIn]
