Telemundo reporter Adan Manzano was found dead in a New Orleans hotel room on Wednesday, February 5, days before he was supposed to cover the Super Bowl. Days later, police arrested Dannette Colbert and charged her with robbery. She had Manzano's cell phone and credit card with her. Since her arrest, several of her alleged victims have come forward, including 52-year-old David Butler.
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According to the Kenner Police Department, Butler was one of the many who contacted them, alleging they were victims of Colbert's in the past. For Butler, his alleged nightmare encounter with Dannette Colbert took place in November 2021, according to NBC News.
While in New Orleans, and after working for a full day, he arrived at a local bar. Butler said that, suddenly, Colbert approached him with another woman and offered him a drink. He accepted, but shortly after, he began to feel weird. Colbert then offered him a ride home, and he once again agreed.
"She ushered me into some kind of black Suburban that was literally right there," Butler said. "And that's the last thing I remember that night."
David Butler woke up hours later at a house he was renovating, lying on the floor. He had no recollection of ever arriving there. Moreover, he found that his cell phone and wallet disappeared. Soon, he discovered that his credit cards were used to spend thousands of dollars on purchases. Furthermore, $80,000 in cryptocurrency was transferred to another account.
Butler helped police identify Dannette Colbert and she was then convicted of her crimes. A judge ordered Colbert to pay $50,000 in restitution to David Butler instead of sending her to prison. Butler claims he has not received a single penny.
Harsher Sentence
Dannette Colbert was arrested multiple times throughout the years in similar cases to Manzano's. However, on two separate occasions, the cases were dismissed as the victims did not testify, according to The Associated Press.
Should Colbert have received a harsher sentence, spending years in jail, Butler believes Manzano would still be alive today.
"Had the court acted decisively by incarcerating Ms. Colbert or enforcing stricter conditions for her release, it is possible Mr. Manzano would still be alive today," Butler said.
"The minimal fines and lack of meaningful incarceration for crimes that could have led to serious injury or loss of life are, quite frankly, an insult to public safety and the justice system," Butler continued. "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."
Police are currently investigating the incident involving Adan Manzano and Dannette Colbert. While Colbert has not been charged with murder, investigations could lead to additional charges.
