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Mike Pennel Jr. #98 of the New England Patriots looks on from the sidelines during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on August 8, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan.

Former New England Patriots defensive tackle Mike Pennel has been named a “person of interest” in a homicide investigation in the Dominican Republic, according to ESPN.

Pennel has not been charged with a crime. The report centers on the death of 22-year-old Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche, who was declared missing in September 2021. Her remains were found earlier this year on a property he owned at the time of her disappearance, ESPN reported.

According to ESPN, the body was discovered in January while a worker was digging a trench on the property. Officials later identified Guzmán through DNA that matched her son.

Authorities have not publicly released a cause of death. ESPN reported that the case is being investigated as a homicide.

Mike Pennel Denies Any Involvement

Pennel denied involvement in a text message to ESPN and pushed back strongly on the report.

“This isn’t a story,” Pennel told ESPN. “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’s attorney, Alexander Valbuena, also told ESPN that Pennel did not know Guzmán and was not in the Dominican Republic when she disappeared.

According to ESPN, Pennel had not been contacted by Dominican authorities as of the report’s publication.

Pennel’s Attorney Says He Is Cooperating

Valbuena told ESPN that Pennel asked his lawyers to offer his full cooperation to Dominican authorities

“It is also important to clarify that we are already in communication with the authorities to clarify the situation, as Mr. [Pennel’s] primary concern and interest has been to get to the bottom of this since he learned of it,” Valbuena told ESPN.

The report did not state whether there are other persons of interest in the investigation.

Mike Pennel Spent One Training Camp With Patriots

Pennel entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and has played for multiple teams, including the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.

His time with New England was brief. Pennel signed with the Patriots in 2019 and spent that summer with the team before he was released ahead of the regular season.

Pennel went on to play for Kansas City and was part of multiple Chiefs Super Bowl teams. He is currently a free agent.

At the time Guzmán was declared missing in September 2021, Pennel was not on an NFL roster. Two days later, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Pennel has also had prior off-field issues during his career. He was suspended by the NFL multiple times for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was also sued in 2024 by the widow of former NFL quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who accused him of defrauding her out of $275,000 as part of a dog-breeding business he operated in the Dominican Republic.

Pennel has not been charged in connection with Guzmán’s death.