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Former Bears<\/a> defensive tackle Mike Pennel is a person of interest in the investigation of a woman\u2019s death in the Dominican Republic, ESPN reported Saturday<\/a>, but he has denied any legal involvement in the case and called it \u201cfake news.\u201d<\/p>\n Pennel\u2019s attorney told ESPN that Pennel and his representation already have been in communication with Dominican authorities and that Pennel\u2019s chief concern is \u201cto get to the bottom of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Carli Franchesca Guzman Roche was declared missing Sept. 13, 2021, when she was 22. When Pennel sold his home in the Dominican last year, sources told ESPN that her remains were discovered on the property by a worker digging a trench. The attorney general\u2019s office told the network the case is being investigated as a homicide.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t a story,\u201d Pennel wrote in a text message to the reporters. \u201cI\u2019m not legally involved. This is fake news being reported. I\u2019d advise you to speak with my agent\/lawyer… before writing a false story damaging my reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n An attorney for Pennel told ESPN that he wasn\u2019t in the Dominican when Roche disappeared, didn\u2019t know her and that Pennel directed his lawyers to \u201coffer his full cooperation to the Dominican Authorities and help clarify the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n Pennel, 34, was with the Bears in 2021 and \u201922. Roche was declared missing in 2021 between the time the team released him Aug. 31 and the Falcons signing him Sept. 15. He spent all of the 2022 season with the Bears, playing every game and starting twice.<\/p>\n He split last season between the Bengals and Chiefs and currently is a free agent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n