Louisiana authorities on Monday charged a second suspect with homicide within the loss of life 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 primarily based 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 cellphone.
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 prices associated to Manzano’s loss of life, then extradited to Louisiana.
Kenner police stated in a information launch that the homicide cost in opposition to 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, primarily based on “correspondence and information where they were going back and forth. So we think they were working hand-in-hand in concert with each other.”
An legal professional for White, Kevin Boshea, stated he hadn’t been knowledgeable of the homicide cost earlier than an Related Press reporter known as him Monday.
“I don’t think he’s guilty of the other crimes,” Boshea stated, “so how can he be guilty of murder?”
Boshea stated he pressed police throughout a preliminary listening to on the theft and fraud prices final month to indicate proof that White was within the New Orleans space when Manzano died, however they offered none.
An legal professional for Colbert had stated that police had been making “assumptions and guesses” to hyperlink her to Manzano’s loss of life.
Beneath Louisiana regulation, a defendant could be charged with second-degree homicide for distributing medication that trigger a loss of life or for committing sure crimes, together with theft, that end in somebody dying.
An post-mortem discovered Manzano died mendacity facedown on a pillow and unable to breathe after ingesting a mixture 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 coming into his room collectively the day of his loss of life. 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 data confirmed no prescriptions for Xanax or different depressants, and that they recovered the drug from Colbert’s house.
