Louisiana authorities on Monday charged a second suspect with homicide within the dying of a tv reporter who had traveled to New Orleans to cowl the Tremendous Bowl.
Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old reporter and anchor for Telemundo based mostly in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, was discovered lifeless Feb. 5 in his lodge room within the New Orleans suburb of Kenner. A lady seen on safety video leaving Manzano’s room was later charged with second-degree homicide and with stealing his bank cards and mobile phone.
Kenner police introduced Monday that an confederate, 34-year-old Rickey White, has additionally been charged with second-degree homicide. White was arrested in Florida in March on theft and fraud expenses associated to Manzano’s dying, then extradited to Louisiana.
Kenner police stated in a information launch that the homicide cost towards White resulted from “continued investigative efforts,” however officers gave no additional particulars.
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley stated at a information convention March 18 that investigators had linked White to Danette Colbert, the primary suspect charged within the case, based mostly on “correspondence and data the place they have been going forwards and backwards. So, we expect they have been working hand-in-hand in live performance with one another.”
An legal professional for White, Kevin Boshea, stated he hadn’t been knowledgeable of the homicide cost earlier than an Related Press reporter referred to as him Monday.
“I do not assume he is responsible of the opposite crimes,” Boshea stated, “so how can he be responsible of homicide?”
Boshea stated he pressed police throughout a preliminary listening to on the theft and fraud expenses final month to indicate proof that White was within the New Orleans space when Manzano died, however they introduced none.
An legal professional for Colbert had stated that police have been making “assumptions and guesses” to hyperlink her to Manzano’s dying.
Underneath Louisiana legislation, a defendant may be charged with second-degree homicide for distributing medicine that trigger a dying or for committing sure crimes, together with theft, that end in somebody dying.
An post-mortem discovered Manzano died mendacity face down on a pillow and unable to breathe after ingesting a mix of alcohol and the depressant Xanax, Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich informed reporters in March.
Police stated safety video from Manzano’s lodge confirmed him and Colbert getting into his room collectively the day of his dying. Footage confirmed Colbert leaving with out him about an hour later. Authorities have stated Colbert later used Manzano’s bank card to make a purchase order at a New Orleans gasoline station and at a number of shops within the space.
Police have additionally stated Manzano’s medical information confirmed no prescriptions for Xanax or different depressants, and that they recovered the drug from Colbert’s house.
