After more than three years of relentless searching and heartbreak, the family of Dee Warner has finally found some resolution, although under tragic circumstances. Authorities have positively identified human remains found on the Tipton, Michigan property of her husband, Dale Warner, as those of the missing mother of five, who disappeared in April 2021.
The gruesome discovery was made on August 18, 2024, during a comprehensive search executed by the Michigan State Police, who have now classified her untimely death as a homicide.
The remains were discovered inside a large steel tank, typically used for storing anhydrous ammonia. This tank was located in a remote barn, separate from the main area of the property. Investigators speculate that the tank was intentionally modified to conceal Warner’s body, with both ends securely sealed.
The discovery is the result of years of persistent investigation and the unwavering determination of Warner’s family, who had long suspected foul play. Dale Warner was taken into custody in November 2023 on charges of murder and tampering with evidence, although Dee’s remains had remained undiscovered until now.
Dee Warner’s brother, Gregg Hardy, has been outspoken throughout the investigation. He offered a harrowing theory about how his sister’s body was concealed. “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 shared with 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 contends that the detailed manner in which Dee’s body was hidden indicates a calculated act. “That’s so premeditated and so heinous that he deserves nothing less than murder one, no parole,” he stated.
The case has garnered significant public interest, not only due to the shocking method of body disposal but also because of the comprehensive search efforts that preceded the discovery. Dale Warner had been under suspicion for a while, especially as details of the couple’s troubled marriage emerged. Reports suggest that Dee, aged 52, had intended to leave Dale before she disappeared.
Warner’s remains were formally identified on August 20, 2024, following an autopsy. The autopsy confirmed her identity, but the precise cause of death has not been revealed by authorities, pending further investigation. The Michigan State Police have only confirmed that Warner’s death was a homicide.
Dee Warner’s disappearance initially baffled investigators, with numerous searches of Dale’s property producing no significant leads. The investigation gained new momentum when state police took charge in August 2022. The search in August 2024, which led to the finding of Warner’s remains, was part of this intensified effort.
In reaction to the discovery, a representative for the Warner family expressed a range of 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 in custody on a $15 million bond and has entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him. His pre-trial hearing is set for September 4, 2024, in Lenawee County Circuit Court. As the trial date approaches, Warner’s defense team is expected to challenge the prosecution’s case, although the discovery of Dee’s remains on Dale’s property is a significant development.
The Warner family continues to grapple with the discovery of Dee’s body and the final resolution of a case that has tormented them for over three years.
