After more than three years of anguish, the family of Dee Warner finally has some closure, though the circumstances are nothing short of horrific. Human remains found on the Tipton, Michigan property of her husband, Dale Warner, have been identified as the missing mother of five, who vanished in April 2021.
The grim discovery was made on August 18, 2024, during a thorough search by Michigan State Police, who have now ruled her death a homicide.
The remains were concealed in a large steel tank, typically used to store anhydrous ammonia, which was found in a secluded barn separate from the main portion of the property. Investigators believe the tank was deliberately altered to hide Warner’s body, with both ends sealed shut.
The discovery was the culmination of years of investigation and persistence by Warner’s family, who had long suspected foul play. Dale Warner was arrested in November 2023, and charged with murder and evidence tampering, but until now, Dee’s body had remained hidden.
Dee Warner’s brother, Gregg Hardy, has been vocal throughout the investigation. He shared a chilling theory on how his sister ended up in the tank. “In the dark of night, in a building that had no cameras, slide her body in there, put the end cap back on it, and weld it completely shut,” Hardy told WDIV-TV. He added, “And then attach that to a chassis, paint it, even have the gall to put his logo on it to make it look like it was normal.”
Hardy believes that the meticulous way in which Dee’s body was concealed points to a premeditated act. “That’s so premeditated and so heinous that he deserves nothing less than murder one, no parole,” he asserted.
The case has drawn significant attention, not only due to the shocking manner in which Dee’s body was hidden but also because of the extensive search efforts that preceded this discovery. Dale Warner had long been a person of interest, especially as details of their troubled marriage came to light. The couple’s relationship had reportedly been strained, with Dee, 52, allegedly planning to leave Dale before she went missing.
Warner’s remains were officially identified on August 20, 2024, following an autopsy. The results of the autopsy confirmed her identity but, notably, the exact cause of death has been withheld by authorities, pending further investigation. The Michigan State Police have not disclosed how Warner died, only confirming that her death has been classified as a homicide.
Dee Warner’s disappearance had initially perplexed investigators, with multiple searches of Dale’s property yielding no significant clues. It wasn’t until the state police took over the case in August 2022 that the investigation gained renewed momentum. The August 2024 search, which led to the discovery of Warner’s remains, was part of this intensified effort.
In response to the discovery, a spokesperson for the Warner family expressed mixed emotions. “It’s hard to explain because you have the relief of knowing that we’re finally going to be able to lay her to rest,” they told WTVG. “But then, there’s that grief that comes back that we’ve had to relive over and over every time we make progression with the case – when she was declared deceased, and then again when Dale was arrested for murder – it’s just a wound that we keep having to reopen.”
Dale Warner is currently being held on a $15 million bond and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September 4, 2024, in Lenawee County Circuit Court. As the trial approaches, Warner’s defense team is expected to challenge the prosecution’s case, though the discovery of Dee’s remains on Dale’s property is a significant development.
The Warner family, meanwhile, continues to process the discovery of Dee’s body and the long-awaited conclusion to a case that has haunted them for over three years.