LENAWEE COUNTY, Mich. – Dale Warner will face trial Jan. 27 in the murder of his wife Dee Warner, whose remains were discovered inside a sealed anhydrous ammonia tank on his property -- nearly three years after she vanished from their Lenawee County home.
The nine-week trial marks the culmination of a haunting investigation that spanned five years.
“Who would have ever thought that in this little tiny town on this little country road that we’d have to be talking about a murder,” said Gregg Hardy during an investigation with Local 4 in 2023.
Initial Disappearance
- April 25, 2021: 52-year-old Dee Warner vanishes from her home on Munger Road in Franklin Township after reportedly planning to meet with her husband
- Police body camera footage shows Dale Warner being questioned the day after her disappearance.
Investigation Intensifies
- August 2022: Michigan State Police take over the investigation from the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office
- November 2023: Dale Warner is arrested and charged with open murder, despite no body being found
- March 2024: A judge legally declares Dee Warner dead
Critical Discovery
- August 16, 2024: Investigators make a chilling discovery — human remains inside a welded-shut anhydrous ammonia tank on Dale’s property
- Dental records later confirm the remains belong to Dee Warner
Legal Proceedings
The case has faced several legal hurdles:
- March 2025: Dale’s son, Jaron Warner, was briefly charged with tampering with evidence and being an accessory, but charges were dropped in May
- May 2025: Court denies defense motion to move the trial out of Lenawee County
- January 2026: Final pre-trial hearing scheduled for Jan. 14, ahead of the Jan. 27 trial start
Civil Case Pending
Beyond the criminal proceedings, Dee’s family has filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against Dale Warner. The suit alleges he strangled her and has been mishandling assets belonging to her children. A pretrial hearing for the civil case is scheduled for August 25, 2026.
Family’s Long Wait
The investigation has taken an emotional toll on Warner’s family.
“One of the last things my mom said to me was, ‘I watch Dateline like every night and he could do something like that to me,’” said Dee Warner’s daughter during the preliminary hearing.
The trial is scheduled to proceed unless Dale Warner accepts a last-minute plea deal.