The Green Bay Packers are learning of some extremely troubling news regarding one of their former starters and long time contributors. It has been reported that a murder investigation has been reopened and a former Green Bay starter is the main person of interest.
Here are the shocking details.
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Dec 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt Lafleur stands on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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Two Dominican sources close to the investigation told ESPN a woman’s body was found on a property owned by NFL veteran Michael Pennel Jr. at the time she disappeared in 2021.
Sources say Pennel is a person of interest in the case:
An attorney for Pennel said the player did not know the woman and was not in the country at the time she disappeared. In a text message response to ESPN, Pennel labeled the story “fake news.”
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.
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.
June 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Pennel during organized team activities. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK
As a response to a text, Pennel said, “This isn’t a story. I’m not legally involved. I’d recommend consulting my agent or lawyer before writing a false story that would damage my reputation.”
Pennel, 34, played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals last season and is currently a free agent.
According to Pennel’s Dominican attorney, Alexander Valbuena, Pennel told his lawyers that he was willing to cooperate with the Dominican authorities and help clarify the situation for them.
ESPN reported on Saturday morning that Pennel has not been contacted by Dominican authorities.
Pennel signed with the Green Bay Packers on May 12, 2014 after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft.Combined with Jayrone Elliott, Pennel became one of the Packers’ undrafted players.Pennel made 13 appearances and recorded eight tackles during his rookie season in 2014.
Pennel played in all 16 games with five starts and recorded 24 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in 2015.
In total Pennel was in Green Bay from 2014-2016.
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