ESPN deletes Michael Pennel Jr. story, admits 'errors' in original report

As NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared on Wednesday, ESPN published a story on June 18 regarding free-agent defensive lineman Michael Pennel Jr. and an investigation into the death of a woman in the Dominican Republic on property he previously owned. 

That story suggested Pennel knew the woman and "frequently spent time" with her. As of the morning of July 1, ESPN had removed the original piece and posted an update. 

ESPN shares Michael Pennel Jr. update

"On June 18, 2026, ESPN published a story about Michael Pennel Jr. and an investigation into the death of a woman in the Dominican Republic who disappeared on September 5, 2021. ESPN has determined the story contained errors and has removed it. Since the publication of the story, Pennel's representatives have provided ESPN with documentation, including travel and financial records, supporting Pennel's statements to ESPN that he was not in the Dominican Republic at the time the woman disappeared."

Florio confirmed that Pro Football Talk deactivated its article and deleted a corresponding tweet related to the original ESPN post. 

Pennel most recently played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs last season. From 2014 through the 2022 campaign, he completed stints with the Green Bay Packers, the New York Jets, the Chiefs, the Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears.

Representatives for Michael Pennel Jr. issue statement

In a separate statement, attorney Brian Wainger of Kaleo Legal noted that Pennel retained Kaleo Legal after the ESPN story and other pieces related to it were published. 

"Mr. Pennel had nothing to do with the death or disappearance of Ms. Roche and was never a suspect or person of interest in that investigation," Wainger said. "He did not know her. Mr. Pennel’s personal records, including his passport and other travel documents, banking records, and photographs, along with their geotracking locations, confirm Mike was not in the Dominican Republic in September, 2021 at the time of Ms. Roche’s disappearance, or in the weeks before or after it. Mike was in Denver, Colorado, being treated for a sports injury at the time, and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2021. Mr. Pennel’s Dominican attorney, Cesar A. Duran, never told anyone he expected Mr. Pennel to be arrested. Mr. Pennel owned but never lived in the property where the remains of Ms. Roche were found. Mr. Pennel’s video surveillance system captured several people unlawfully trespassing on the property the night Ms. Roche disappeared. Mr. Pennel saved the video surveillance and shared it with the Dominican authorities, who did not know it existed."

Wainger added that "these past few weeks have been a nightmare for Mike" and that Pennel "is relieved to have all this behind him and is excited to resume his football career." It's unclear what teams, if any, have expressed interest in signing Pennel this summer. Pennel turned 35 years old this past May.