One of the suspects convicted in connection with the death of a Kansas City reporter during the Super Bowl last year has been resentenced to life in prison.
Danette Colbert was resentenced to life in prison plus 75 years for being a habitual offender, according to a news release issued by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Colbert, 49, of Slidell, was most recently convicted of negligent homicide in connection with Manzano’s death and of racketeering.
The racketeering charge stems from her role in a yearslong scheme in which she and others lured men to hotel rooms for trysts, where she provided them with drugs that caused them to sleep. Colbert and others then stole the sleeping men’s belongings, according to the district attorney’s office.
On Sept. 28, she was sentenced to 60 years in prison, including the maximum 10 years for negligent homicide in connection with Manzano’s death.
Prosecutors sought to increase her sentence under Louisiana’s habitual offender law, listing multiple felony convictions for their reasoning.
The judge vacated Colbert’s 10-year sentence for negligent homicide and in turn ordered she serve the rest of her life in prison.
Original sentencing hearing:
Colbert and Rickey White were in court last month when they were sentenced after both were convicted in connection with the scheme that left Adan Manzano dead.
The jury found Colbert and White guilty of racketeering.
Colbert was found guilty on negligent homicide charges, but the jury found White not guilty of manslaughter.
Manzano’s family gave impact statements ahead of Colbert and White’s sentencing.
Manzano’s mother said she wasn’t prepared to see the people who “snatched my son’s life away.”
His mother said Adan’s wife had died when a negligent driver drove into her lane, killing her.
She said that their child is left without a father and mother, and stressed that nothing could bring them back.
Adan’s mother said she did not want her heart to be filled with anger and hatred towards White and Colbert, but said they “cannot be free” and said they both “are not good for society.”
Adan’s mother said she will never overcome her son’s death.
Colbert was then given a sentence of 50 years for racketeering and 10 years for negligent homicide.
White was sentenced to 45 years for racketeering.
Closing Arguments:
During closing arguments, prosecutors presented a collage of 80 driver’s licenses and Social Security cards, which they said belonged to victims.
Colbert and White are accused of drugging and robbing multiple men over the course of several years. Prosecutors say Manzano was just one of many victims of this scheme.
The state told the jury they were not trying to prove that Colbert killed Manzano but argued that her actions led to his death.
They reminded the jury that Xanax, Manzano’s debit card and a key to Manzano’s hotel room were found in Colbert’s residence.
They also claimed that Rickey White was involved, alleging he helped Colbert steal Manzano’s money.
In the defense’s closing argument, it claimed that Colbert and White’s relationship cannot be classified as racketeering. One of the defense attorneys said they were simply petty thieves.
The attorney acknowledged that some of the evidence presented in the trial makes the defendants unlikable, but told the jury they can’t convict someone because they hate them.
He also pointed out that Manzano was seen on Bourbon Street surveillance video smoking something. He said the medical examiner was not able to say whether there were other substances that left Manzano’s system before the autopsy was done.
Earlier reports:
The pair is accused of drugging 27-year-old Manzano, leading to his death.
Manzano was found dead in his Kenner hotel room on Feb. 5, 2025. He was in town to cover the Super Bowl.
His cause of death was determined to be a mix of Xanax and alcohol, and positional asphyxia; he was lying face down.
Before closing arguments began Thursday, the judge gave a warning for the defense attorneys to pass along to family members of their clients. She said that they need to stop communicating with the defendants and that they need to respect the bailiff and courtroom deputies.
She also said that White threatened a jailer Wednesday night, saying his family would “take care” of the jailer.
The court has heard from 13 witnesses in the trial. The state rested Wednesday night. Colbert and White declined to testify and the defense did not call any witnesses.
Colbert and White are both facing manslaughter and racketeering charges.
READ MORE:Woman convicted in Super Bowl reporter’s death resentenced to life in prison
