A former NFL player is now seen as a person of interest in the investigation into a woman’s suspected murder in the Dominican Republic. The woman, Kari Francesca Guzman Roche, was found deceased on property previously owned by Mike Pennell, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Guzman went missing on September 13, 2021, after an eight-day period without contact. Her remains were located in January during excavation work on the land, which Pennell sold the previous year. According to an ESPN report, unnamed sources associated with the inquiry provided this information.
Pennell, through text messages, firmly denied any connections to the case. He described the situation as misleading, asserting, “This is not a story. I am not legally involved. This is fake news being reported. I advise you to consult my agent/lawyer before writing false articles. It will damage my reputation.”
This property is situated in a gated community in Sosua, on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.
Pennell had a notable, albeit tumultuous, football career, playing last season for both the Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals. He has faced suspensions tied to the NFL’s substance abuse policy, with two incidents occurring in 2016. Additionally, in 2024, he was sued by the widow of Dwayne Haskins for allegedly defrauding him of $275,000 involving a dog breeding enterprise linked to the Dominican Republic.
At 34, Pennell’s journey in football began at Arizona State Scottsdale Community College before he went undrafted in 2014. He managed to carve out a 12-year career with five different teams, notably the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons, while also spending time on the practice squads of the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. Currently, he remains a free agent.
