Mike Pennel Jr. is responding after reports connected him to an investigation in the Dominican Republic. The former Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle addressed claims that he is a person of interest after the body of a woman missing since 2021 was discovered on property he owned at the time.
Mike Pennel Jr. Denies Involvement After Body Found
According to ESPN, two sources close to the investigation said Pennel is considered a person of interest after the remains of Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche were discovered earlier this year.
Guzmán Roche, 22, was reported missing in September 2021 after moving to Sosúa, a coastal town in the Puerto Plata province. Authorities said she had not been heard from since early September, and the search extended across the region.
Her remains were found in January when a worker was digging a trench on the property, which Pennel has since sold. Officials later confirmed her identity through DNA testing that matched her son.
Authorities have not released a cause of death, but the attorney general’s office said the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Pennel denied any connection to the situation in a text message response to ESPN.
“This isn’t a story. I’m not legally involved. This is fake news being reported. I’d advise you to speak with my agent/lawyer … before writing a false story. Damaging my reputation,” Pennel said.
His attorney also told ESPN that Pennel did not know Guzmán Roche and was not in the country when she disappeared.
The Former Kansas City Chief Offers Cooperation as Investigation Continues
Pennel’s legal team said he is willing to cooperate with authorities. His Dominican attorney, Alexander Valbuena, said Pennel has directed his lawyers to assist if needed.
Valbuena said Pennel asked his legal team “to offer his full cooperation to the Dominican authorities and help clarify the situation.”
Pennel told ESPN that he has not been contacted by authorities regarding the investigation.
Pennel has also faced legal and administrative issues during his career. According to NFL records, he was suspended three times for violating the league’s substance abuse policy — twice in 2016 and once in 2020.
In 2024, he was sued by the widow of former NFL quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who accused him of defrauding her of $275,000 in connection with a dog-breeding business in the Dominican Republic.
The situation has drawn attention online, and Pennel deactivated his Instagram account on April 23 as speculation began to spread, according to ESPN.
Mike Pennel Jr.’s NFL Career and Recent Teams
Penel, 34, has played 12 seasons in the NFL and most recently split time between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. He recorded 26 tackles across 16 games.
He joined the Bengals early in the season after being elevated from the practice squad and later signed with the Chiefs in October 2025, marking his third stint with the team.
Pennel has been part of multiple successful seasons with Kansas City, including its Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVIII championship runs. He also contributed during the team’s 2024 season, which ended with a third straight AFC title.
As of now, Pennel is a free agent as the investigation continues.
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