Dee Warner disappeared from her rural Lenawee County, Michigan farm on April 25, 2021. On March 10, 2026, a jury convicted her husband Dale Warner of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with her death — more than four years after the 52-year-old mother vanished without a trace.
Background
Dee Warner, 52, was living on a farm with her second husband Dale Warner and their then-9-year-old child. The Warners operated three businesses from their property: a trucking company with approximately 15 employees, a farm business raising crops, and a chemical company selling fertilizer and seed. Friends and family described Dee Warner as a tough, generous and hardworking businesswoman.
Dee Warner's daughter Rikkell Bock lived about a half-mile from the family farm — close enough to see her mother's house from her own front yard. It was Bock who first discovered Dee Warner was missing on April 25, 2021, when she arrived for their weekly Sunday breakfast and found no sign of her mother. Both of Dee Warner's cars remained on the property, and she was not responding to calls or texts — highly unusual behavior, according to Bock, who said her mother would have "glued her phone to her hand."
The day before her disappearance, Dee Warner had been in a conflict with two employees from the trucking business. Her adult children had seen her that Saturday, and she was very upset about the confrontation. This prompted the family to call the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office to report her missing.
When police arrived, Dale Warner met with deputies and told them about his wife's argument with employees. He said Dee had been upset but noted her makeup bag, hair dryer and curling iron were missing — leading him to believe she had left before when upset and would cool off and return home.
Dee Warner's brother Gregg Hardy organized a foot search of the farmland with about 50 volunteers the weekend after she was reported missing. The search found no trace of her. Hardy said Dale Warner appeared on a four-wheeler during the search but did not participate, and Hardy began to suspect his brother-in-law may have harmed Dee.
The Investigation
Michigan State Police took over the investigation from the county sheriff in August 2022, though they had been assisting on the case earlier. The FBI also provided assistance. Dale Warner voluntarily spoke with police multiple times and allowed searches of his properties on several occasions.
Gregg Hardy and his wife Shelley hired attorney and investigator Billy Little to assist with the case in 2021. Little provided strategic advice, including using press coverage to draw attention to the case. He also conducted his own investigation, talking to potential witnesses and flying drones over the land searching for evidence.
In what Little described as a form of psychological pressure on Dale Warner, Gregg Hardy funded a billboard at a major intersection near the Warner home that read "Help Dale Find Dee." The message was intended sarcastically, as Hardy did not believe Dale Warner was acting like a concerned husband.
In November 2023, state police arrested Dale Warner and charged him with Dee Warner's murder. At the time of his arrest, no trace of Dee Warner had been found. He pleaded not guilty.
The Verdict
Dale Warner was bound over for trial in June 2024. His murder trial was scheduled to begin on September 2, 2025.
In August 2024, shortly after Warner was bound over for trial, police discovered a major piece of physical evidence in the case. On March 10, 2026, a jury found Dale Warner guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife.
Dale Warner's attorney declined to speak to media about the case pretrial, stating in an email that Warner maintains his innocence and is prepared to vigorously fight for his defense in court.
Key Takeaways
- Dee Warner, 52, disappeared from her Lenawee County, Michigan farm on April 25, 2021
- Her husband Dale Warner was arrested in November 2023 and charged with murder
- A jury convicted Dale Warner of second-degree murder and evidence tampering on March 10, 2026
- Police discovered key physical evidence in August 2024
- The case involved a "Help Dale Find Dee" billboard strategically placed to apply pressure on the husband
- Michigan State Police took over the investigation in August 2022 with FBI assistance
What's Next
Dale Warner is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. The case remains pending as the legal process continues.
The investigation ultimately recovered physical evidence that led to conviction, despite Dee Warner's body never being found. The case represents a significant development in Michigan's "no body" murder prosecutions, where physical evidence and circumstantial proof can establish criminal liability without a victim's remains.