Witnesses told police in 2021 that Pennel had an ongoing relationship with Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche, whose body was found on a property he owned in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, according to an ESPN investigation. Her family reported her missing on September 11, 2021, but her body was not found until January 2026 when the new owner was doing excavation work.

Pennel Denies Involvement, Attorney Offers Mixed Response

Pennel did not respond to a message seeking comment before the story was published; After it was published Thursday afternoon, Pennel called a reporter to insist he had no relationship with Guzmán Roche. He directed ESPN to an attorney in the Dominican Republic, Ariel Durán.

“I don’t understand any of this. I don’t know who you’re talking to, who’s saying this — I don’t know this woman. I wasn’t in the country (when Guzmán disappeared),” Pennel said.

Durán said Pennel had nothing to do with Guzmán’s death and that documents will exonerate him. However, he also said he expects Pennel to be charged in the case because the body was found on his property. Durán indicated that if charges are filed, he might not represent Pennel due to a current financial dispute between them. He did not specify what charges Pennel might face.

Timeline and New Developments

Pennel signed with the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2021, just two days after Guzmán was reported missing and the investigation began. The ESPN report emerged in April, linking Pennel to the case, and he quickly dismissed the allegations as “fake news.”

Authorities identified the body in March 2026, prompting Dominican officials to reopen the investigation and inform ESPN that Pennel was considered a “person of interest.” Guzmán Roche was 22 when she disappeared and was the mother of an 8-year-old son. Her body was identified after comparing her DNA with her son’s.

Pennel owned the property in Puerto Plata until 2025 and frequently visited the Dominican Republic. Records show several people told police early in the 2021 search that Pennel had connections with Guzmán worth investigating.

Previous Controversies and Legal Issues

This is not the first legal issue Pennel has faced. In 2024, he was sued by the widow of NFL quarterback Dwayne Haskins for $275,000 in a dog breeding business fraud case in the Dominican Republic. In addition, Pennel has a history of suspensions with the NFL due to the league’s substance abuse policy.

Pennel’s attorney, Alexander Valbuena, has stated that Pennel did not know Guzmán and was not in the country when she disappeared, offering “plena cooperación” to the Dominican authorities. The investigation continues to unfold, with authorities pursuing the case as a potential homicide.