The family of Dee Warner has finally received closure after over three years of pain and uncertainty. The missing mother of five’s remains were discovered on her husband, Dale Warner’s property in Tipton, Michigan. She had been missing since April 2021.
Detectives from the Michigan State Police declared her death a homicide.
The remains were hidden inside a large steel tank, typically used for anhydrous ammonia storage. The tank was located in a remote barn separate from the main property. Investigators believe it was intentionally modified to conceal Warner’s body, with both ends sealed.
The gruesome discovery is the result of years of investigation and the determination of Warner’s family who suspected foul play. Dale Warner was arrested in November 2023 on charges of murder and tampering with evidence, but until now, the location of Dee’s body remained unknown.
Dee Warner’s brother, Gregg Hardy, has been quite vocal during the investigation. He shared his theory on how his sister’s body ended up in the tank with WDIV-TV. “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 said. He went on to add, “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 suggests that the careful concealment of Dee’s body indicates a premeditated act. “That’s so premeditated and so heinous that he deserves nothing less than murder one, no parole,” he stated.
The case has garnered widespread attention, not only due to the shocking manner in which Dee’s body was concealed, but also because of the extensive search efforts that came before this discovery. Details of the couple’s troubled marriage have emerged, indicating that Dee, 52, was allegedly planning to leave Dale before her disappearance.
Following an autopsy, Warner’s remains were officially identified. While the autopsy confirmed her identity, the exact cause of death is currently withheld by authorities as the investigation continues. The Michigan State Police have only confirmed that her death is a homicide.
Dee Warner’s disappearance initially puzzled investigators. Multiple searches of Dale’s property yielded no significant clues. The investigation gained renewed momentum when the state police took over the case in August 2022. The search, which led to the discovery of Warner’s remains, was part of this intensified effort.
In light of the discovery, a Warner family spokesperson conveyed their 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, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, is currently being held on a $15 million bond. His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for October 30, 2024, in Lenawee County Circuit Court. As the trial nears, 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.
Meanwhile, the Warner family continues to grapple with the discovery of Dee’s body and the closure to a case that has troubled them for more than three years.
