Overview
- The remains of Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche were uncovered during excavation in January 2026 on a Puerto Plata property that Mike Pennel Jr. owned until 2025.
- Dominican authorities reopened the investigation in March and are treating it as a homicide while describing Pennel as a person of interest.
- An ESPN investigation that reviewed police records and interviewed people close to the victim reports Pennel had an ongoing relationship with Guzmán, a claim that contradicts his public denials.
- Police records and family accounts show relatives raised concerns in September 2021, saying they smelled decomposition at Pennel’s property and urged investigators to look into him, yet files indicate he was not interviewed then.
- Pennel says he is not legally involved and has a local certificate showing no current charges while his Dominican lawyer and prosecutors say charges could still be possible as the probe continues.