The family of Dee Warner has finally found closure after more than three years of uncertainty. Human remains discovered on her husband Dale Warner’s property in Tipton, Michigan have been confirmed as belonging to the missing mother of five, who disappeared in April 2021.
Michigan State Police discovered the remains on August 18, 2024, during an extensive search of the property. The death of Dee Warner has been classified as a homicide.
The remains were hidden inside a large steel tank, commonly used for storing anhydrous ammonia. The tank, found in a barn away from the main property, had been modified to conceal Warner’s body with both ends welded shut. Investigators believe this was a deliberate effort to hide the remains.
Dale Warner was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with evidence in November 2023, after years of investigation and persistent efforts by the Warner family. However, until this recent discovery, Dee Warner’s body had remained undiscovered.
Gregg Hardy, Dee Warner’s brother, has been outspoken throughout the investigation. Hardy shared his theory about 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 also mentioned that the person responsible took the effort to paint the tank and add his logo to make it appear normal.
Hardy suggested 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 attracted substantial attention due to the shocking manner in which Dee’s remains were concealed and the extensive search efforts before the discovery. Dale Warner was a person of interest, particularly as details of their strained marriage surfaced. Reports suggest that Dee, 52, had intended to leave Dale before she disappeared.
Following an autopsy, Warner’s remains were officially identified on August 20, 2024. The autopsy confirmed her identity, but the exact cause of death is not being disclosed by authorities pending further investigation. The Michigan State Police have only confirmed that her death is classified as a homicide.
Prior to August 2022, when the state police took over the case, Dee Warner’s disappearance had remained a mystery with multiple searches of Dale’s property yielding no significant leads. The discovery of Warner’s remains in August 2024 was part of a renewed investigative effort.
In reaction to the discovery, a representative for the Warner family expressed complex emotions to WTVG. “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. 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,” they said.
Dale Warner, currently held on a $15 million bond, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September 4, 2024, in Lenawee County Circuit Court. As the trial date nears, Warner’s defense team is expected to challenge the prosecution’s case, but the discovery of Dee’s remains on Dale’s property significantly bolsters the case against him.
Meanwhile, the Warner family continues to grapple with the discovery of Dee’s body, marking the end of a case that has been a source of distress for over three years.
