Two-time Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl champion Mike Pennel has reportedly been named a person of interest in the death of a missing woman in the Dominican Republic.
Discovery of Remains
According to ESPN, the body of a woman who had been missing in the Dominican Republic since 2021 was found earlier this year on a property owned by Pennel at the time she vanished. The remains were discovered in January 2026 by a worker digging a trench on the property in the coastal town of Sosua.
Carli Franchesca Guzman Roche was 22 years old when she was declared missing on September 13, 2021. She had recently moved to Sosua, where Pennel owned a house in a luxurious gated community. Her body could only be identified after officials matched her DNA to her eight-year-old son. Police are treating the case as a homicide, though a cause of death has not been announced.
Pennel's Response
Pennel's attorney told ESPN that his client did not know the woman and was not in the Dominican Republic at the time of her disappearance, calling the reports 'fake news.' In a text to ESPN, Pennel stated: '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 sold the home in 2025, prior to the discovery of the remains. His Dominican attorney, Alexander Valbuena, said Pennel instructed his legal team to offer full cooperation to Dominican authorities to help clarify the situation.
Background and Career
At the time of Guzman's disappearance, Pennel was without an NFL team after being released by the Chicago Bears in August 2021. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2021, two days after Guzman was declared missing. Pennel, a 34-year-old defensive tackle, won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, having three spells in Kansas City between 2019-2020, 2023-2024, and in 2025. He has also played for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and most recently the Cincinnati Bengals.
Pennel deleted his Instagram account on Thursday after social media users began linking him to Guzman's death. He has been suspended three times for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Additionally, in 2024, he was sued by the widow of former NFL quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who claimed Pennel defrauded her out of $275,000 as part of a dog breeding business in the Dominican Republic.
Family Reaction
Guzman's grandmother told ESPN that she was never informed about who owned the property where the remains were found. She expressed having 'no idea at all' why her granddaughter might have been there.
