The children of Dee Warner have filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit against her husband, Dale Warner, who is accused of killing the woman in 2021.
Attorney Todd Flood said the lawsuit was filed on May 21, 2025.
The civil case is expected to be resolved within a year, according to Flood. There are two other defendants the attorney is considering adding to the lawsuit, but he didn’t release their names.
Flood said he has given notice for the funds in the estate to be frozen so Dale can’t access the money. The attorney said they don’t know exactly how much Dale has, but said it’s over seven figures.
“That money should not go to a killer,” said Flood. “That money should not go to his family. That money should go to the offspring.”
Flood said they will also be seeking funds that were spent on the declaration of death trial.
“There was such a long waste of time and money and effort spent on the declaration of death trial, so to the extent that we can get costs and expenses for sure, we will be seeking that,” said Flood.
Flood said “well into six figures” was spent on that trial.
Dale also allegedly transferred assets from Dee’s businesses to himself and his family members after she disappeared.
His son, Jaron Warner, 28, was charged with tampering with evidence and accessory after the fact earlier this year, but those charges were recently dropped.
Flood addressed those dropped charges and said that he was “confident” they would be brought back.
The attorney also said he hasn’t heard if Jaron will testify against his father at his trial in September.
Case Background
Dee Warner, 52, was reported missing on April 25, 2021.
She told a friend she was going to meet up with her husband, Dale, and was never seen or heard from again.
Remains found
Dee’s remains were found in Lenawee County on Aug. 18, 2024, more than three years after her disappearance, and were positively identified three days later.
Her body was discovered in a chemical storage tank on a property owned by Dale. He owns several pieces of property in Lenawee County, and the one where his wife was found is about four miles from where she lived on Mugner Road in Tipton.
Husband charged
Dale was arrested and charged in connection with her murder before her remains were found, and is set to stand trial on Sept. 2, 2025.
Charges against stepson dropped
His son, Jaron Dale Warner, 28, was charged with tampering with evidence and being an accessory after the fact earlier this year, but those charges were recently dropped without explanation on May 13, 2025.
Dee’s brother, Gregg Hardy, talked with Local 4 after learning the charges against Jaron were dropped.
“It’s challenging, particularly when there are setbacks,” Hardy said.
Hardy said it’s also difficult because Jaron lives next door to the rest of Dee’s family.
“It’s uncomfortable, and obviously we have resentment for that, and my sister certainly would have resentment for that,” Hardy said.
The attorneys for Jaron are also reacting to the dropped charges.
“Generally speaking, we welcome dismissals, but this one leaves a sour taste,” Jaron’s attorneys, Neil Rockind and Colin Daniels, said. “Jaron Warner should never have been charged in the first place. He committed no crime.”