A man from out of state claims he was drugged, robbed, and left for dead by the same Louisiana woman who now stands accused in the death of a 27-year-old Telemundo reporter covering the Super Bowl in New Orleans. The woman, identified as Danette Colbert, 48, is facing fraud and theft-related charges in connection with the reporter’s death—three years after the man says she nearly cost him his life.
Accusations Precede Reporter’s Death
David Butler, 52, alleges that in November 2021, he encountered Colbert while he was in New Orleans working on a property renovation. After a chance meeting at a French Quarter bar, Butler says he was offered a drink. Soon after consuming the drink, he began to feel disoriented. According to Butler, Colbert then offered to help him get home and ushered him into a nearby black SUV. That was the last thing he remembers from that night.
Hours later, Butler says he woke up on a mattress on the floor of the property he was renovating, completely unaware of how he got there. His phone, wallet, and cryptocurrency savings—totaling more than $80,000—were missing. His credit cards had also been charged for thousands of dollars at retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart. Butler reported the incident to the police, who later circulated a wanted poster naming Colbert as a suspect in the theft of more than $134,000.
Colbert’s Criminal Background
Court records show that Colbert has a history of similar charges:
Nevada (2022): Faced grand larceny and administering a drug to aid the commission of a felony. Both cases were dropped when victims declined to testify.
Jefferson Parish, Louisiana (2017 & 2019): Pleaded guilty in separate fraud cases after being accused of stealing more than $1,000 from a man’s device and committing other similar offenses.
In October 2023, Colbert was convicted of computer fraud, theft, and illegal transmission of monetary funds in Butler’s case. Despite the conviction, the judge suspended the combined prison sentence and instead placed her on probation for five years, ordering her to pay $50,000 in restitution at $834 per month. Butler reports he has yet to receive any payments.
Connection to Telemundo Reporter’s Death
Just last week, 27-year-old Adan Manzano, a Telemundo reporter, was found dead in his New Orleans hotel room. Police arrested Colbert in connection with Manzano’s death, charging her with fraud and other theft-related crimes. Toxicology results are still pending, and police have indicated additional charges may be considered depending on those findings.
Butler, learning of Manzano’s death, reached out to the Kenner Police Department—located just west of New Orleans—to share his own experience with Colbert. He believes that if courts had imposed stricter penalties or incarceration following his case, Manzano might still be alive today.
Victim Impact and Concerns Over Leniency
In his victim impact statement, Butler expressed outrage that Colbert’s prison sentence was suspended. He argued that such leniency put the public at risk, warning the court that “if someone dies due to her actions in the future, their blood will undeniably be on the hands of those who allowed her to escape real accountability today.”
According to court documents, the Orleans Parish prosecutor handling Butler’s case filed a motion on Monday to revoke Colbert’s probation, suggesting that her recent arrest in Manzano’s death constitutes a violation of her probation terms.
Ongoing Investigation
The Kenner Police Department announced it has uncovered additional evidence related to Manzano’s death and is working with forensic experts and the coroner’s office to determine if Colbert should face more charges. Authorities note that toxicology results could take weeks to process. Meanwhile, individuals claiming to be past victims of Colbert—or reporting similar incidents—have reached out to the department since news of her arrest broke.
Neither Colbert’s lawyers nor a spokesperson for the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office responded to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Orleans Criminal District Judge Nandi Campbell, who presided over Butler’s case, said the judge is unable to comment and referred to Butler’s victim impact statement from November.