Another individual has been taken into custody in relation to the passing of a sports journalist from Kansas City who lost his life in a New Orleans hotel room while covering the Super Bowl.
Christian Anderson, aged 33, was apprehended by authorities on Friday. Anderson is accused of renting the vehicle that was used in the incident and offering logistical assistance. Evidence from text messages suggests that Anderson had an active part in the robbery that resulted in the demise of Adan Manzano, 27, as reported by NOLA.com.
As previously detailed by CrimeOnline, Manzano was discovered unconscious on February 6 in his hotel room in Kenner, Louisiana. Manzano had journeyed to cover the Super Bowl for Telemundo Kansas City and Tico Sports. Police came across his body when conducting a welfare check after he failed to attend a morning meeting.
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.
[Feature Photo: Adam Manzano/LinkedIn]
