Skeletal remains found in Sosúa reopen missing person case and point to former NFL-linked property owner
The discovery of human skeletal remains buried in the yard of a villa in the Perla Marina residential area, in Sosúa, Puerto Plata, has reopened a case that remained unresolved for nearly five years. The remains were identified as those of Carli Francesca Guzmán Roche, a native of Baní who had been reported missing since September 2021.
The body was found near the pool area of the property after a gardener carried out cleaning work following the sale of the villa.
Main suspect left the country and sold the property
The main person linked to the case is Michael Maurice Penel Jr., an individual associated with the NFL, who was questioned by Dominican authorities at the time but later released.
According to available information, he left the country in 2021, shortly after the young woman’s disappearance. Years later, in September 2025, he sold the villa for US$220,000 from abroad without returning to the Dominican Republic.
So far, he has not made any public statements regarding the case, and it has been reported that he deleted his Instagram account after the case resurfaced.
Investigation under scrutiny
The property where the body was found had been inspected multiple times during the initial investigation. However, authorities failed to detect the remains during those searches.
Family members had reported strange odors near the pool area, but at the time, authorities attributed it to a dead animal, raising serious concerns today about the thoroughness of the investigation.
DNA confirmation brings partial closure
Although the remains were discovered months ago, it was only recently that DNA testing confirmed they belonged to Carli Francesca Guzmán Roche, bringing partial closure to her family after years of uncertainty.
Public reaction and calls for justice
The case has sparked strong public reaction, with many questioning the actions of the authorities and demanding a deeper investigation.
Some believe that without international assistance, the case could remain unresolved, given that the main suspect is no longer in the country and no legal consequences have followed.
A case that demands answers
The fact that the body remained buried for years in a previously inspected property, combined with the suspect’s departure and later sale of the villa, raises serious questions.
This case highlights the urgent need for more rigorous and transparent investigations, as well as accountability from authorities in cases that deeply impact Dominican families.
