Ex-Chiefs Player Mike Pennel Named Person Of Interest In Woman's Death
Veteran defensive lineman Mike Pennel Jr. made headlines during the NFL Draft for a very disturbing reason.
Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche, a woman who has been missing since 2021, was found dead earlier this year in the Dominican Republic. The attorney general's office said the authorities are pursuing her case as a homicide. With that being, ESPN reported that Pennel is being viewed a person of interest.
"Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche was 22 when she was declared missing Sept. 13, 2021, after recently moving to the northern coastal tourist town of Sosúa, where Pennel had a home in a gated community. The national attorney general's office said in a statement that she had not been heard from since Sept. 5 and that the search for her covered the entire province of Puerto Plata," the report from ESPN states.
"Two sources close to the investigation said Pennel sold his property last year, and the body was discovered while a worker was digging a trench in January. Guzmán's body was only recently identified after officials compared her DNA to a sample from her son, who is now 8."
Pennel has already referred to this story as "fake news." He also said he hasn't heard from Dominican authorities.
"This isn't a story. I'm not legally involved," Pennel told ESPN. "This is fake news being reported. I'd advise you to speak with my agent/lawyer ... before writing a false story. Damaging my reputation."
ESPN noted that Pennel deactivated his Instagram account this past Thursday.
Mike Pennel is currently a free agent.
Pennel, who went undrafted in 2014, has played for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals over the past 11 years.
Although his best statistical seasons came with the Bears and Jets, Pennel won two Super Bowl rings with the Chiefs.
It's hard to imagine an NFL team will sign Pennel until this case is over.
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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 2:37 PM.