Authorities investigating the apparent drugging death and robbery of a Telemundo reporter who was covering February’s Super Bowl have arrested a third suspect in the case.
On Friday, the Kenner police department in Louisiana announced the arrest of 33-year-old Christian Anderson on allegations that he had a role in the death of Adan Manzano, 27, whose body was found on 5 February in his hotel room in the city just west of New Orleans.
Police alleged that Anderson “played an active role in a coordinated pattern of targeting victims, drugging them and stealing personal property including phones and financial account access”, the Louisiana news station WBRZ reported.
Anderson’s arrest follows that of Danette Colbert, 48, and Rickey White, 34, in Manzano’s death. Colbert was charged with second-degree murder while White was arrested on robbery and fraud charges stemming from Manzano’s death.
In a statement, Kenner police said that a car used by Colbert on the day of Manzano’s death had been rented under Anderson’s name. Police also said that additional evidence showed Anderson “provided logistical support, engaged in post-crime communication, and assisted in attempts to financially benefit from the victim’s stolen assets”, including Manzano’s credit card.
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After his arrest, Anderson was booked on counts including principal to simple robbery, purse snatching, access device fraud, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud and computer fraud. He was being held at the jail in Jefferson parish, Louisiana, which includes Kenner, alongside Colbert and White, according to lockup records.
Manzano, a reporter based in Kansas City, Missouri, was found suffocated while lying face down on a pillow. Autopsy reports revealed that Manzano – who was in New Orleans to cover the Kansas City Chiefs football team’s participation in the 9 February Super Bowl – had alcohol and the depressant Xanax in his system.
Later investigations showed that Colbert had been captured on security footage leaving Manzano’s hotel room.
In May, Colbert was sentenced to 25 years in prison in an unrelated case that involved non-fatal drugging and robbery charges.
“The evidence was overwhelming that this woman was a serial fraudster and took advantage of multiple tourists and innocent people over many years in the French Quarter” neighborhood in New Orleans, where she first met Manzano, Louisiana attorney general Liz Murrill said.
