Dominican police name former NFL player person of interest

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are investigating the death of a woman whose remains were discovered on property once owned by veteran NFL defensive tackle Mike Pennel Jr., with new reports contradicting his previous denials of knowing the victim. The body of Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche, who was reported missing in September 2021, was found in January 2026 during excavation work by the new owner of the property in a gated community.

Dominican authorities have reopened the case and are treating Guzmán Roche's death as a homicide. While Pennel has not been charged and received a certificate last month confirming he is not currently the subject of any criminal charges, he has been identified as a person of interest. The 35-year-old free agent was never interviewed by police at the time of the disappearance, according to reports.

A recent investigation, citing interviews with individuals close to Guzmán Roche and police records, states that Pennel and the victim were acquainted and that they frequently spent time together when he visited the Dominican Republic. This directly contradicts a statement issued by Pennel's attorney, Alexander Valbuena, in April, which said Pennel...