The Bourbon Street Hustler: The Tragic Death of Adan Manzano

Summary

Crime Salad Podcast Episode Summary
Title: The Bourbon Street Hustler: The Tragic Death of Adan Manzano
Hosts: Ashley and Ricky
Release Date: March 15, 2025

---

Introduction to the Case

In this gripping episode of Crime Salad, hosts Ashley and Ricky delve into the harrowing story of Adan Manzano, a young sports reporter whose untimely death in New Orleans unveiled a sinister pattern of crimes orchestrated by a woman known as Danette Colbert—the "Bourbon Street Hustler." This episode not only unpacks the tragic events surrounding Adan’s death but also sheds light on the broader implications of gender perceptions in criminal victimization and the perilous reality of drug-facilitated crimes.

The David Butler Incident

The narrative begins with the story of David Butler, a man who, in November 2021, was renovating a property while seeking respite on New Orleans' vibrant Bourbon Street. After a day’s hard work, David decided to unwind at a local bar where he met Danette Colbert. What seemed like a friendly encounter swiftly turned tragic when David found himself drugged and robbed.

Ricky recounts, “[David] became woozy, almost as if the world was getting dark across from him” (02:23), highlighting the sudden and terrifying loss of control David experienced. Despite Danette’s initial appearance of kindness and assistance, David awoke to discover his wallet, wedding ring, cell phone, and $85,000 in cryptocurrency had been stolen. Shockingly, despite her convictions for theft and fraud, Danette received a suspended sentence, leaving David feeling a profound sense of injustice.

Danette Colbert: The Bourbon Street Hustler

Danette Colbert emerged as a central figure in these crimes. Known for her charm and ability to target vulnerable individuals, Danette's modus operandi involved drugging her victims to facilitate theft. Despite multiple convictions, her sentences were often lenient—Ricky emphasizes, “She had, like, some kind of formula already planned out” (04:35)—allowing her to continue her criminal activities with impunity.

David Butler’s case became a catalyst for exposing Danette’s pattern of behavior, leading to increased scrutiny and eventual legal action. Yet, Danette’s prior offenses, including incidents in Las Vegas where felony charges were dismissed due to victims’ reluctance to testify, painted a grim picture of systemic failures in prosecuting such crimes.

The Tragic Death of Adan Manzano

The episode pivots to the tragic death of Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old sports reporter from Kansas City. Adan, a dedicated family man recently widowed after the sudden death of his wife Ashley Boyd, traveled to New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl. Known for his professionalism and warmth, Adan’s venture into New Orleans was a bright spot in his life, both personally and professionally.

However, Adan’s trip ended in tragedy when he was found dead in his hotel room on February 5, 2025. Initial investigations revealed no signs of trauma, prompting questions about the cause of his sudden death. Ashley remarks, “Could it be murder?” (17:20), reflecting the uncertainty and fear surrounding the incident.

Investigation and Evidence

Law enforcement swiftly connected Adan’s death to Danette Colbert through surveillance footage and forensic evidence. The footage showed Adan returning to his hotel room with Danette, and subsequently, only Danette was seen leaving alone. Further investigation uncovered Xanax—a potent benzodiazepine—in Danette’s home, a drug known for its use in incapacitating victims.

Ricky explains, “Investigators found Xanax in Danette's home” (20:41), linking her directly to the circumstances that led to Adan’s death. Despite the absence of immediate evidence, the pattern of Danette’s previous crimes and the presence of harmful substances in her possession built a compelling case against her.

Past Crimes and Pattern

Danette’s criminal history is extensive and troubling. Since 2016, she faced multiple charges related to theft, fraud, and drug-facilitated crimes. Notably, in 2022, she was accused of drugging and robbing two men in Las Vegas, though charges were dismissed due to the victims’ unwillingness to testify.

Ashley expresses frustration, saying, “She was caught stealing and robbing multiple times... It just blows my mind that it was dealt with like this” (24:40), underscoring the systemic issues that allowed Danette to evade severe punishment despite her repeated offenses.

Other Victims

Adan’s case was not an isolated incident. As awareness grew, more victims came forward, recounting similar experiences of being drugged and robbed by Danette. Stories from individuals like Jason Egela and Eric Mall paralleled Danette’s methods, revealing a broader pattern of deception and theft targeting men.

Moreover, the death of John Jenkins in December 2024 surfaced as a potential second fatality linked to Danette. Initially ruled as accidental cocaine and ethanol toxicity, new evidence suggested foul play, prompting detectives to reassess the case in light of Danette’s known modus operandi.

Societal Perceptions and Challenges

The episode highlights the societal challenges faced by male victims of gendered crimes. Ricky points out, “Society doesn't see men as victims. But we can be victims too” (07:02), emphasizing the stigma and shame that often prevent male victims from coming forward. This underreporting complicates efforts to hold perpetrators like Danette accountable and provides a skewed understanding of victimization patterns.

The Danger of Drugging and Its Aftermath

Ashley and Ricky discuss the severe implications of drug-facilitated crimes, particularly the use of substances like Xanax. Ricky explains, “Xanax overdoses can lead to a whole mess of terrifying side effects... causing the user to suffocate to death” (33:59), highlighting the lethal potential of drug misuse. The psychological trauma inflicted on survivors, including feelings of shame and isolation, further exacerbates the impact of such crimes.

Conclusion and Moving Forward

The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of supporting victims, regardless of gender, and the need for systemic reform to ensure that perpetrators like Danette Colbert face appropriate consequences. The enactment of the Habitual Offender bill aims to enhance punishments for repeat offenders, offering hope for more stringent measures against habitual criminals.

Ashley passionately urges, “There shouldn't be any shame... victims should be given support, empathy, and treated with care, regardless of their gender” (30:45). The hosts call for increased awareness, vigilance, and societal change to prevent such tragedies and ensure justice for victims.

---

Notable Quotes

• Ricky: “Exactly. Well, that's what David described he was feeling. And he knew something wasn't right.” (02:26)
• Ashley: “Wow. Something about this feels like she's done this before...” (04:05)
• Ricky: “Someone like Danette Colbert are able to get away with what they do because society doesn't see men as victims.” (07:02)
• Ashley: “How is that even possible?” (05:19)
• Ricky: “Danette had a long history of committing crimes that were eerily similar to what Adan appears to have gone through.” (23:00)
• Ashley: “Holy cow.” (28:20)
• Ricky: “You're being drugged, you're being tricked and conned into this situation that you didn't even want to be in in the first place.” (26:25)
• Ashley: “Yeah, I completely agree... no victim deserves to feel guilt or shame that belongs solely to the perpetrator of the crime, right?” (35:54)

Final Thoughts

Ashley and Ricky's comprehensive exploration of Adan Manzano’s tragic death serves as a poignant reminder of the pervasive and often underreported issue of drug-facilitated crimes. By unveiling Danette Colbert’s manipulative tactics and the systemic challenges in prosecuting such crimes, Crime Salad not only honors the victims but also advocates for a more empathetic and just society.

---

This summary captures the essence of the Crime Salad podcast episode, providing a thorough overview for listeners and highlighting critical discussions and insights shared by the hosts.

Transcript

[Ashley]

Mmm.

[Ricky]

Oh. Whatcha eating?

[David Butler]

The new banana split cookie from AM pm. All freshly baked with real butter with banana, chocolate and strawberry flavors.

[Ricky]

Wow, that sounds amazing. Can I have a bite?

[David Butler]

I'm sorry, but no. But you can't split the banana split.

[Ricky]

Not even a little.

[David Butler]

Not even a crumb.

[Ricky]

What if.

[David Butler]

No, please. Mine. When it's too legit to split. That's cravenience. Get a 3 pack for 99 cents with our app ampm. Too much good stuff plus tax where applicable. Prices and participation may vary. Terms and conditions apply.

[Ricky]

We are beginning this story a few years back. In November of 2021, a man named David Butler, who was renovating a property, decided to take a relaxing, enjoyable night out, stepping onto the well known and popular Bourbon street, soaking in the pulse of New Orleans that was wrapping around him. Jazz music spilled from open doorways, mingling with laughter. And the scent of Cajun spices added to the whole New Orleans vibe. The street was buzzing. It was electric. After a long day of working, he was ready to unwind. Still wearing the work clothes he had on that day, he found a bar, ordered a drink set to enjoy what New Orleans is known for. Not long after, he caught the attention of two women, Danette Colbert and her friend. They exchanged smiles, then conversation, then drinks. Danette, although a stranger, seemed to be a local. She was approachable, very nice and welcoming. And it was nice to have some company. Along with the experience that New Orleans has to offer. The night blurred into easy laughter, the kind that made strangers feel familiar. David bought another round. Then perception warped. David's vision wavered. The room tilted slightly, sounds stretching and distorting. A heavy, hazy feeling crept in, slow at first, then all at once. His limbs felt heavy, his breath unsteady. He became woozy, almost as if the world was getting dark across from him. Danette watched the night, once full of energy, now felt like it was closing in. Could he have drank too much? Was his drink spiked? This was such an unusual feeling. Something was wrong. And you know that feeling when you're put under general anesthesia?

[Ashley]

Oh yeah. You don't have like any control of your body.

[Ricky]

Exactly. Well, that's what David described he was feeling. And he knew something wasn't right. He knew he had to get back to the renovation that he was working on. Danette followed David out of the bar and insisted on helping him to get home. She signaled a cab. It was a black Suburban and used his card for the ride. And she went along with him, making sure that he gets home safely. Safely.

[Ashley]

Oh yeah. Just as Any good friend would. Right, Right.

[Ricky]

Well, you would think. And this was the last thing that David remembers. Being pushed into the unknown black suburban. Well, about 16 hours went past when David was still passed out. And he was eventually found unconscious in his house by the property manager, who struggled to wake him up. It was as if he was in a deep, sedated sleep.

[Ashley]

Oh, like, almost like you're coming out of anesthesia.

[Ricky]

Yeah, exactly. You know, confused, disoriented. And his family, they had been trying to get ahold of him, but he wasn't replying to any calls or any texts. But his messages showed the read receipt. This was strange to them. And so they had the property manager go and check on David to see what was going on. The property manager immediately suspected someone roofied him. Once David finally came to his senses, he quickly realized that he was robbed. His wallet, his wedding ring, his cell phone, and $85,000 worth of cryptocurrency were gone. And there were a few charges and ATM attempts as well.

[Ashley]

Wow. Something about this feels like she's done this before, though it seems well practiced. It seems like if this were more of an opportunist type thing, maybe she would have hit it off with him, went back to his place, and then, you know, either drugged him or whatever and robbed him. But it seemed like her intentions were to do this all along, being that she drugged him at the bar and flagged down a taxi.

[Ricky]

Yeah, like she had, like, some kind of formula already planned out.

[Ashley]

I don't know. It's just giving me that feeling.

[Ricky]

Yeah. So let's take a closer look at things. This mysterious woman known as the Bourbon Street Hustler. That's the name that she was given. And her name is Danette Colbert. She preys on the perfect victim, someone who's alone, someone easily drawn in by her charm and warmth, only to be swallowed by the darkness waiting for them. Danette Colbert was eventually found guilty of theft, computer fraud, and illegal transmission of monetary funds. However, she didn't actually serve any prison time for what she did to David.

[Ashley]

Are you serious?

[Ricky]

Her sentence was suspended. The judge let her out on probation and ordered her to pay restitution.

[Ashley]

How is that even possible?

[Ricky]

That's exactly what David was feeling, too. He experienced firsthand that sickening sense of cruelty that Danette was capable of. And so he pushed for the criminal who had drugged him, had robbed him to serve prison. He wrote a warning to the judge that now sounds even more ominous, asking why was someone with such a history of endangering lives given yet another chance. If someone dies due to her actions in the future, their blood will undeniably be on the hands of those who allow her to escape. Real accountability today.

[Ashley]

I mean, come on, drugging someone is crazy. How does she only get probation, right? Just mind boggling, right?

[Ricky]

And not even six months after this attack happened, she walked free. David's words have come back to haunt the city of New Orleans.

[Ashley]

Well, yeah, she's back at it again.

[Ricky]

In an interview shared In February of 2025, David shared that he feels a tremendous amount of guilt over the fate who many believe to be Danette's most recent victim. He admits every week I've searched her name since then, I knew she would eventually do this again to somebo.

[Ashley]

Jeez. Unbelievable.

[Ricky]

And as I learned more about Danette's criminal history to prepare for this episode, I couldn't help but come to the same conclusion. And after reading article after article about the countless men who came forward who Danette tricked, drugged, robbed and left them with psychological scars, it seems like it was only a matter of time before one of her attacks would result in death.

[Ashley]

100%.

[Ricky]

David has shared his perspective on Danette's history of escaping serious consequences for her crimes, stating people like Danette Colbert are able to get away with what they do for one, because society doesn't see men as victims. But we can be victims too. And it's easy to argue that it took far too long for law enforcement to take Danette's damaging crimes as seriously as they should have. But after an encounter with a rising star sports anchor and reporter from kgkc, Adon Manzano, the spotlight is finally shining on Danette, brighter than ever. Hey, crime sad listeners. Today, Ricky and I are diving into the case of 27 year old sports reporter Adon Manzano, his tragic death and the tangled web of crimes uncovered during the investigation that sent shockwaves through the media. I'm Ashley.

[Ashley]

And I'm Ricky.

[Ricky]

And well, let's begin. If you wake up too hot or too cold, it might be your sheets. Miracle Made Silver infused bedding is inspired by NASA to regulate temperature so you sleep comfortably at night. Before we tried Miracle Maid, I don't know how many times we both tossed and turned all throughout the night because we were too hot or too cold. Miracle Made has been a complete game changer. Plus, traditional sheets can harbor more bacteria than a toilet seat. Gross. Miracle Maid's self cleaning fabric prevents 99.7% of bacterial growth, keeping your sheets fresh three times longer and helping protect your skin from breakouts. Upgrade your sleep today. Go to trymiracle.com Crimesalad and use code CRIMESALAD to get over 40% off plus a free three piece towel set. That's trymiracle.com CrimesalAd Now I'll be honest. When I first started researching Adon Manzano's case for this episode, I had no idea how many layers there were to uncover.

[Ashley]

I remember seeing some of the headlines, but honestly, I didn't really know much about the story either.

[Ricky]

Yeah, and now that more and more victims are starting to come forward against Danette Colbert, it's making this case even stronger. Their stories raise important questions about how gender shapes our perception of crimes like this one. Now, before we fully dive into this case, please be advised that this episode does include in depth discussions of the use of sedative drugs to impair victims, overdose and drug use. And if this topic is sensitive for you, you may want to skip this episode and tune in next week instead. For now, let's get into the tragedy that resulted in the death of a kind, loving and hardworking father orphaning his two year old daughter, Adon Manzano. Just like you said, Ricky, we've all seen the social media buzz, but there's so much more to the story than meets the eye. So how does a sports reporter from Kansas connect to David Butler, the man who was drugged and robbed in New Orleans? To answer that, we need to step back to February of 2024, a time when Adon Manzano and his family seemed happier than ever, full of hope for what promised to be a bright future. In an article by ksnt, Adon Manzano shared his excitement for the upcoming super bowl that he would be reporting on from the sidelines for the first time for Telemundo Kansas City. He proudly discussed his role in helping to make coverage of the game more inclusive, stating, people actually reach out to our company and appreciate that we actually speak their language at some point in an important play. It actually makes him feel better.

[Ashley]

So I'm assuming that he spoke a different language. Was this like Spanish or something?

[Ricky]

Yeah. Adon Manzano was a Spanish language sports reporter and anchor for Telemundo Kansas City, kg, KCLD and Adan's wife Ashley Boyd and their one year old daughter Eleanor also made an appearance. In this article. Ashley shared her support for her husband, saying, he has worked so hard for this. There's been times when he has had two or three jobs to make ends meet and now knowing he gets to go out there and do what he loves and what he's good at it just is the best feeling ever. Adan echoed his wife's sentiments, admitting, I used to dream about this, but I never expected that it was going to come that soon. It's just a blessing now. Sadly, only a couple of months later, on April 11th of 2024, a tragic car accident would steal Ashley from her family forever, leaving David, now a widowed father, to care for their daughter, Eleanor.

[Ashley]

Oh, jeez, that's terrible.

[Ricky]

Yeah. In Ashley's obituary, the beloved second grade teacher was described as the kindest, most caring and beautiful person. Her sparkling personality was contagious, lighting up every room she entered. Ashley touched countless lives and left a positive impact on everyone she met. Ashley and Adan's family have faced such devastating losses within the span of less than a year. And it sounds like Ashley was an incredible woman who has been missed dearly since her death. I imagine the impact of that grief hit her husband and daughter especially hard. Loved ones have said that Eleanor was Ashley's entire world now. The mother who always kept her daughter at the forefront of her mind was gone.

[Ashley]

Yeah, it's just terrible. I mean, imagine waking up one morning and everything's good. You have your family, you're accomplishing your dreams, goals, whatever, and then this happens and everything is just ripped from you, completely torn apart. Couldn't imagine. And he's only 27, he's so young, and now he's a widower and. Oh, my God.

[Ricky]

Yeah. Honestly, no one would have blamed him if that kind of loss completely broke him, even just for a while. However, being the determined and hardworking man Adan was, Ashley's death pushed Adan to strive to do more, to ensure that his daughter had a great life and was well taken care of. Even in the absence of her adoring mother, Adan was going to do anything he could to make sure his daughter thrived.

[Ashley]

Yeah, good for him.

[Ricky]

A fellow reporter at the station, Samuel Rivera, told NBC News that Adan would ask him for advice on how to become the best father he could be and set his daughter up for a successful future. The station's creative services director, Eli Martinez, echoed similar memories, sharing. Adan was always asking, what can I do to be a better father, to do the best I can do for her? It was very important to him that he was a good dad. And on top of always trying to grow and be a better father, Adan also continued to excel in his career. When it came time for the 2025 Super Bowl, Adan eagerly embarked on a trip to join fellow football fans in New Orleans to cover the huge event, successfully carving a name for himself as a talented sports anchor and reporter. Having moved from Mexico City to Topeka, Kansas, in 2018 and going on to graduate from Kansas State University, Adan was excited to cheer for the Kansas City Chiefs as they attempted their third super bowl win in a row. While his daughter stayed with her grandparents, Adon took full advantage of this amazing career opportunity. He arrived in Louisiana the week leading up to the super bowl and checked into his comfort suite's hotel room in Kenner, a suburb about 25 minutes away from downtown New Orleans. With a few days to spare before the super bowl began, Adan carved out some time in his busy schedule to explore a glimpse of what the city had to offer beyond the sports scene. And really, who could resist?

[Ashley]

Oh, yeah, like the culture, the music, the food, like everything. The place is insane, right?

[Ricky]

Who would miss out on all that?

[Ashley]

Yep.

[Ricky]

And Adan. He left the hotel room for a night out. A little fun before he dug back into work and the never ending responsibilities of a single father. The thing is, no matter what he got into during his free time, Adan was known for being career driven, responsible, and reliable. So when he didn't show up for a work meeting that Wednesday, February 5th of 2025, his co workers worried something was wrong. They called the hotel Adon was staying at to ask for a wellness check. That's when hotel staff made a horrific discovery. Adan had never left his room after returning from the night out early that morning. He couldn't go anywhere even if he wanted to. Adon Manzano was declared deceased at only 27 years old, leaving his young daughter an orphan. His lifeless body was found in his hotel room on February 5th of 2025. And the big question was, how did this happen? Adan seemed to be in good health, with no reason to suspect that he just would randomly die while lying in his bed. Clearly, Adan's family would want an explanation. Law enforcement didn't waste any time in starting their investigation.

[Ashley]

I mean, the good thing here is that I'm assuming cameras are everywhere, especially in a hotel. So there has to be some answers.

[Ricky]

Yeah, that's true. Now, according to investigators, Adan's body showed no initial signs of trauma. So how could someone who seemed totally fine and healthy the day before die so suddenly? Was it a hidden health issue? Death due to natural causes? Or was there a more sinister reason that the young reporter's life was cut tragically short?

[Ashley]

Could it be murder?

[Ricky]

Well, considering that Adon Manzano was a well liked young man, states away from any enemies he might have made. The years he spent in Kansas. This case could have easily gone on to be a puzzling mystery. That left detectives and Adan's loved ones on a never ending scramble for answers. His body was sent for an autopsy, which they hoped might have provided them with some much needed insight. But the results wouldn't be delivered instantly. The investigation had to move forward. In the meantime, detectives explored other avenues that might grant them answers. They, thankfully, they didn't have to look far for their first clue. As you mentioned, Ricky, surveillance cameras were monitoring the comfort suites that Adan was staying in. And it offered them a glimpse into the final moments Adan spent outside of his hotel room. Or so they hoped. As we often know, the presence of surveillance cameras isn't a surefire guarantee that any footage was captured. We've all seen plenty of cases where, you know, surveillance cameras, they failed to capture the exact location. Or maybe they're a little blurry. You can't even make out what you're even seeing.

[Ashley]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ricky]

Or there are some times where footage is just completely erased before investigators even get to view it. Or cameras weren't even working in the first place. Well, this time, investigators were in luck. The surveillance footage from the hotel caught some of Adan's final steps leading up to him returning to his hotel to settle in for the night, unaware of that he would never walk out of that door again. Based off what I saw in the footage, Don doesn't appear to be in any sort of pain or distress when he arrived back at his hotel room after his night out. Of course, that's just my opinion. But to me, his stance looks relaxed, casual. There are no glaring, obvious signs that something is desperately wrong. But I'd argue the most interesting thing about the footage doesn't have anything to do with Adan's behavior at all. Rather, it's the fact that he's not alone.

[Ashley]

Yep, that was going to be my question.

[Ricky]

Yeah. That Wednesday morning, adan was with 48 year old Danette Colbert, a woman well known to be bad news. Surveillance footage later showed Danette leaving alone without Adan. And after that, records showed that his credit card was used multiple times. And when detectives searched her home, they found Adon's missing credit card that was used and his phone, along with narcotics and a stolen firearm, which should be.

[Ashley]

A giant red flag right now.

[Ricky]

Investigators, they don't believe that the firearm played a part in Adan's death. However, the substances found in Dannette's House are being called into question, especially after a preliminary toxicology exam found benzodiazepine, a depressant known to be used in robberies to induce amnesia in Adan's body.

[Ashley]

So Xanax.

[Ricky]

Yeah. Benzodiazepine is commonly sold under the brand name Xanax and can be used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. Adan didn't have a prescription for Xanax or any other depressants, but by now, maybe you can guess who did have access to a supply of Xanax.

[Ashley]

Colbert the culprit. That's what they should call her.

[Ricky]

That's right. Investigators found Xanax in Danette's home. Given her history of drugging and robbing men, I mean, it seems like it wasn't that hard for detectives to narrow in on a main suspect. And based on the evidence gathered so far, investigators believe that Adan met Dennett during his night out in New Orleans for a reason that's still unclear. Both Danette and Adan went into Adan's hotel room at around 4:35am on Wednesday, February 5th of 2025.

[Ashley]

Also, this is the fifth, and I think it's important to say the super bowl was the ninth. So this is a few days before.

[Ricky]

Right. And based on purely surface level observations, from what I've seen in the footage, the two, they appear to be comfortable around each other in a casual type of way. Not overly friendly, but no obvious animosity either. Danette, she left the room briefly, then she actually returned shortly after. It's still unclear what she was doing in Adan's room that morning. But by 6am, Danette seems to have decided that the night was finally over. So she left Adan's hotel room and never returned. And during this time, we don't know exactly what he was going through that morning, how he felt, or if he knew that his dreams of reporting from the sidelines of the 2025 Super bowl and watching his daughter grow into a successful adult would never come true. What we do know is Adan wouldn't survive the morning he spent with Danette. Adan Manzano was found dead in his hotel room later that day, launching an investigation that would shed light on the pain of countless other victims whose lives were disrupted after their unfortunate encounters with Danette Colbert.

[Ashley]

So I remember seeing a lot online about speculation saying that without her in her history, right, it could have looked like, oh, they were partying, he might have overdosed, and then she took off. Because she was scared.

[Ricky]

Yeah, because why did she come back, you know, that second time. That's a good point. I think that's what's gonna make this investigation a little bit more complex.

[Ashley]

With her history.

[Ricky]

Yeah, yeah, with her history. It makes it more complicated, for sure. It didn't take long for investigators to learn that Danette had a long history of committing crimes that were eerily similar to what Adan appears to have gone through during his final hours spent with Danette. In fact, at the time that Danette met Adan, she was out on parole after having been found guilty of charges including theft and credit card fraud back in 2023.

[Ashley]

So she was still under legal supervision.

[Ricky]

Yeah. When she encountered Adan.

[Ashley]

Oh, my gosh. She didn't even take a break.

[Ricky]

No. Danette's life of crimes date back much further than that, though, just to name a few. Among a whirlwind of accusations and charges, Danette pleaded guilty to charges brought against her in 2016 and was sentenced to five years of probation for another case in 2018. In 2022, two unrelated men accused Danette of drugging and robbing them on two separate occasions in Las Vegas. Danette was arrested, and she faced felony charges of grand larceny and administrating a drug to aid in a felony crime for the crimes that she was accused of in Las Vegas. But ultimately, the charges, they were dismissed because the victims did not want to testify in court.

[Ashley]

See, to me, this is where they dropped the ball, because these are multiple occasions where she drugged someone, stole from them, got a slap on the wrist, and she just continued on. Of course, it escalated to a point that hopefully now blows up in her face.

[Ricky]

Right. I mean, it's eerie to think about how a conviction in Las Vegas might have saved Don's life.

[Ashley]

Yeah.

[Ricky]

Administering drugs to aid in the commission of a crime is a category B felony in Nevada, which can land a defendant between one to ten years in prison. While grand larceny charges in Nevada are classified based on the value of the property stolen, resulting in a prison sentence that ranges anywhere from one to 20 years. And it is possible that if Danette had been convicted of both charges, she would have still been in prison by February of 2025. Anna, Don might still be alive today to share his frustration over the Kansas City Chiefs 2025 Super bowl loss today.

[Ashley]

It's just insane to me. And then I had a group of friends in high school who painted a giant penis on a football field and got three months in jail.

[Ricky]

Right. Like comparing that to what Danette has been doing to these Men, Exactly.

[Ashley]

Like, she was caught stealing and robbing multiple times. I think in the high school case that I'm talking about, they drew a penis on a football field, and then they got caught stealing, like, a World of Warcraft card at Walmart, and the judge came down on him hard. It just blows my mind that it was dealt with like this.

[Ricky]

Right. Her pattern of drugging, robbing men, along with the fact that some victims in the Las Vegas cases did not testify, possibly due to fear or shame, raises the question of how many more victims could there be. The accusations in the Las Vegas cases, though the victims refused to testify, they at least filed police reports.

[Ashley]

And honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised if there were a handful of men out there that are just too ashamed to come forward and admit that this happened. Like, the fact that they have to say, okay, I was swindled by a woman who I thought was interested in me, and then I was taken advantage of and robbed or whatever. That's a lot, you know, for a lot of guys to even process and then to tell people about.

[Ricky]

Yeah. It honestly so sad that some men or women, but mostly men, feel like they can't come forward because of that. Like, there shouldn't be any shame in that, you know, because at the same time, it's still a crime. Like, you're being drugged, you're being tricked and conned into this situation that you didn't even want to be in in the first place. You're being taken advantage of, and it's not your fault because you didn't see it coming. And this person comes at you and they're bubbly and showing the side of themselves that is. It's fake. It's just a facade.

[Ashley]

Yeah, 100%.

[Ricky]

On the other hand, since news of Adan's death has become more widespread, more victims have come forward to share their stories, with several claiming that detectives didn't do anything to help them get justice, even after they file police reports. Jason Egela has shared his story of a night out in New Orleans with his nephew back in October of 2021. He says that after suddenly becoming alarmingly disoriented, he requested a ride from Uber. A woman claiming to be the Uber driver conned him into handing her his phone and discreetly swapped it out for a decoy, a trade he didn't even notice until the next day. The thief managed to change all of Jason's passwords for, got a credit card and a loan out in his name, and stole $15,000 from his crypto account.

[Ashley]

Holy cow.

[Ricky]

And when the decoy phone rang unexpectedly, Jason answered it. And it was connected to Eric Mall. Eric shared a tale that mirrored Jason's experience with the supposed Uber driver. After stealing thousands of dollars from accounts that were linked to Eric's phone, the perpetrator had given Jason Eric's phone so she could get her hand on Jason's accounts. Both men filed police reports shortly after the crimes took place. And according to Jason and Eric, despite repeatedly trying to follow up with the New Orleans Police Department, they never heard back from them. No one would help. Eric explained. That's the darkest it got for me. Yet among the many victims that have come forward about being targeted by Danette, or one case stands out as being the most disturbing. It appears possible at least that Adan isn't the first life Dannette selfishly stole.

[Ashley]

Whoa.

[Ricky]

55 year old John Jenkins traveled from his home state of Maryland to New Orleans in December of 2024 to watch a football game with his friends. However, he never made it to the game, prompting his friends to request a wellness check. John's lifeless body was found in his hotel room in the French Quarter. Despite John's family telling police that some of his property was missing, John's death was determined to be the result of accidental cocaine and ethanol toxicity. However, given what happened to Adon, detectives are now investigating the possibility that Danette was involved in John Jenkins death.

[Ashley]

Well, if it turns out that Danette did kill John by drugging him, that's really heavy stuff.

[Ricky]

Yeah, because it opens the door to the possibility that there might be other victims out there whose murders were mistaken for accidental drug overdoses.

[Ashley]

Yeah. Take a look at all the cold cases.

[Ricky]

Perhaps we'll simply never know how many victims have been harmed by Danette. Still, I think it's safe to say that the coverage of Adan's death has brought much needed attention to this issue. Men who had stayed silent up until recently have come forward about the horrible things Danette had done to them. I wonder if hearing about other victims has made Danette's victims feel less alone, you know, giving them the strength to share their awful experiences. Maybe they feel less shame about it.

[Ashley]

Yeah, I would think so. And honestly, you shouldn't feel shame like, come together if this happened to you. Speak out. Let's bring this lady down. Like, screw her.

[Ricky]

Yeah. And since this is such an important topic, we, we want to take some time to go over the issues of drink spiking and drugs used to incapacitate people. Even if the drugs given to an unsuspecting victim don't lead to murder. Being drugged for any reason is such a harmful, dangerous experience to go through that it shouldn't be dismissed or ignored. Studies show that most people underestimate the risk of having their drink spiked. The motives behind drink spiking are often overlooked as well as While substances like roofies are commonly referred to as date rape drugs, with sexual assault accounting for approximately one third of incidents, perpetrators may also drug victims for other reasons, such as felicitating robbery, paired with a general unawareness of the chances of being drugged. The initial warning signs that someone has been drugged sometimes go unnoticed or dismissed, as they're often similar to the effects of excessive consumption of alcohol. Symptoms typically start about 15 minutes after a victim is drugged, and it can last for several hours. Signs to look out for include feeling drunker than expected, woozy or out of it confusion, trouble breathing or speaking memory loss loss of inhibitions nausea and vomiting drowsiness, muscle spasms or seizures loss of consciousness an unusually long or severe hangover despite drinking little to no alcohol. Xanax, the drug that was found through the toxology exam done the day after Adan Manzano died, stands out as a drug that can be especially dangerous in higher doses compared to many other medications. It's faster acting, which can be a blessing for those struggling with their mental health. Unfortunately, this also heightens the risk of serious, sometimes even fatal overdoses when taking Xanax. As the human body can quickly become overwhelmed due to its lack of absorption into the bloodstream, Xanax overdoses can lead to a whole mess of terrifying side effects, including confusion, depression, difficulty breathing or speaking, hallucinations, loss of coordination or balance, memory problems, seizures, unusual changes in mood or behavior, yellowing of the eyes or skin, severe drowsiness, unresponsiveness, loss of consciousness, coma. To add to the danger, mixing Xanax with certain drugs or even alcohol will increase the risk of a fatal overdose. Something important to note since Dannette seems to have preferred to target men who have been drinking, making them especially violent, vulnerable victims. Both alcohol and Xanax alone slow respiration and when combined, the effect can be so powerful that it can prevent the brain from telling the lungs to breathe, causing the user to suffocate to death.

[Ashley]

Jesus, that's terrifying.

[Ricky]

Unfortunately, even those who survive being drugged don't escape unharmed. The psychological effects of being drugged can linger long after the drug has worn off. Shock, denial, anger, guilt, confusion, anxiety, low confidence, depression and isolation are all things that often plague survivors, even after the physical threat has passed. In an article discussing the emotional toll of being drugged, Elijah Mayday spoke out about a separate incident in which he was drugged and assaulted by a different woman. Reflecting on the experience, he described, it is embarrassing and shameful, admitting I never told anyone else about it simply because I'm a guy. She was tiny, and at six foot one, I felt like I should have been able to stop it. A specialist in post traumatic stress syndrome explains, the fact that a person was exposed to a threat of serious injury or the threat of sexual violence can itself be traumatic, not to mention the horrific violation of being drugged against your will and without your consent. However, these crimes aren't always taken as seriously as they should be, and many victims never get justice. In another instance, a woman named Mia went to the hospital the morning after she was roofied to ask for a drug test, and she was told that she needed to file a police report first. And the officers at the Denver police station told her that since she hadn't been assaulted, there was no reason for her to file a report. Mia had said that their reaction caused her a lot of internalized shame, trauma, and embarrassment. Hopefully, as more awareness is brought to this type of an experience, we can show victims more compassion moving forward.

[Ashley]

Yeah, I completely agree. I mean, no victim deserves to feel guilt or shame that belongs solely to the perpetrator of the crime, right?

[Ricky]

And so, moving forward, there have been various speculations about what might have happened in Adan's hotel room that Wednesday morning. One theory is that Danette drugged Adan with the intentions of robbing him, accidentally killing him in the process. Another is that Adan bought drugs off Danette and died of an accidental overdose. However, at this point, we simply don't know what occurred between the two, and we must be careful not to let speculation lead to spreading misinformation that could be harmful, especially out of respect for the victim's family, who have been through enough already. Regardless of the exact details, it seems safe to assume that Danette had something to do with Adan's death. Danette was arrested on February 7th of 2025, just days after Adon's death, despite Danette's attorney arguing that she isn't a flight risk and shouldn't be judged based on her past crimes. On February 25, Danette was denied bond, and at the time of recording this episode, Danette is facing charges for purse snatching, illegal transmission of monetary funds, bank fraud, computer fraud, and robbery. She has yet to be charged with Adan's murder, but investigators have said that there may be more charges to come.

[Ashley]

Yeah, I mean, hopefully.

[Ricky]

On March 6, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Merle's office filed the Habitual Offender bill in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, meaning that prosecutors they are seeking to enhance Danette's sentence due to her prior criminal record in Louisiana. The Habitual offender law, also called the Multiple Offender Law, allows the state to seek harsher penalties for defendants who have previously felony convictions. If the court grants this request, Danette could face a significantly longer sentence than what she would normally receive for her current conviction, potentially up to 20 years to life in prison.

[Ashley]

Good.

[Ricky]

This type of filing is commonly used to target repeat offenders and is at the discretion of the prosecution. It doesn't automatically mean a longer sentence, but it still gives prosecutors leverage in sentencing negotiations or trials. Adon's cousin set up a GoFundMe to help pay for Adon's funeral expenses, which raised $13,690 before being closed to new donations. On the GoFundMe page, the Manzano Aguilar family shared Adan was a kind, loving, hard working person who touched the lives of many with his warmth and generosity. He was a dedicated sports reporter and a true fanatic at heart. His passion for sports and storytelling connected people from Kansas City all the way to his home in Mexico. Through his work, he brought communities together, sharing the excitement, emotion and love for sports that he held so dearly. His sudden departure has left our family devastated. It's tragic that Adon Manzano lost his life as it was heading in such a positive direction, devastating his family so soon after the loss of Ashley, leaving little Eleanor to grow up without either of her parents physically there to care for her or support her. However, I do think his death sheds light on an interesting and complex topic that should be discussed more openly. It seems that there are still people who are dismissive of victims who have been drugged and male victims in general, especially in cases where the perpetrator is a woman. Some victims still struggle under the pressure of this unspoken narrative that men should be ashamed of falling victim to these crimes, they're weak for having done so. In reality, the kind of rhetoric couldn't be further from the truth. Sadly, people of all demographics are drugged and taken advantage of. Though we should be careful and do our best to to stay safe. Keep an eye on your drink when you're out. Avoid accepting drinks from strangers. Seek help immediately if you notice signs that your drink may have been spiked. Flawless vigilance is impossible. Being drugged, robbed or assaulted is never a victim's fault and those who are victimized should be given support, empathy, and treated with care, regardless of their gender. If you want to help continue the important conversations being had about this case, please share today's episode on social media with other True Crime fans. And as always, we are so grateful for our Crime, Salad, Patreon and Apple subscribers. Your support means the world to us and it helps us play our part in spreading awareness about these important topics. With that being said, thank you so much for spreading positive words and, you know, sharing how much you love our show. We really, really greatly appreciate it. It honestly really helps our show grow. And as always, stay safe, take care of yourselves and we'll catch you next week for another deep dive into the stories that need to be told.