Michigan State Police have announced a grim discovery on the property of Dale Warner, a man already charged in connection with the disappearance and alleged murder of his wife, Dee Ann Warner. Human remains were found while officers executed a search warrant in Lenawee County, months after Dale Warner had been charged with open murder and tampering with evidence. The discovery, reported by Law and Crime on Sunday, August 18, 2024, has brought a potential resolution to a case that has haunted the Warner family and the local community for over two years.
Dee Ann Warner, 52, was reported missing by her family on April 25, 2021. She was last seen either that day or the previous evening, April 24, 2021. Her sudden disappearance was out of character, alarming her family when they were unable to reach her. Known as a strong-willed and independent woman, Dee Ann ran a successful trucking company from the barns on her property in Franklin Township, a small community about 70 miles southwest of Detroit.
Despite extensive search efforts and public appeals for information, including assistance from the non-profit organization Crime Stoppers, Dee Ann’s whereabouts remained unknown for over two years. Her phone had gone dead shortly after she was last seen, and there had been no activity on her bank accounts, deepening the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
As the investigation progressed, suspicion increasingly focused on her husband, Dale Warner. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, and Dee Ann’s family believed she was a victim of domestic abuse. Her brother, Gregg Hardy, described Dee Ann as a “very strong person” who likely believed she could manage the situation and possibly change her husband’s behavior—an all-too-common sentiment among victims of domestic violence. Reflecting on the long ordeal, Hardy expressed the family’s pain, saying, “Our family has suffered a long share, and there’s one person who could have eliminated all of that, and that’s the person who is in jail tonight.”
In November 2023, the investigation culminated in Dale Warner being charged with open murder and tampering with evidence related to his wife’s disappearance. By then, authorities had gathered enough evidence to move forward with the case, even though Dee Ann’s body had not been found. The absence of a body made securing a conviction more challenging and left Dee Ann’s family with lingering uncertainty.
The recent discovery of human remains on Dale Warner’s property could be the key to closing this painful chapter for the Warner family. While the remains have yet to be conclusively identified, this development brings renewed hope that Dee Ann Warner’s family may finally have some answers. However, the discovery also underscores the tragic reality of domestic violence and the devastating impact it can have on families and communities.
As the investigation continues, the Warner family and the local community await further details, hoping for closure and justice for Dee Ann Warner, a woman who was taken far too soon.
UPDATE: This is an update to the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Dee Warner who was reported missing by her family on April 25, 2021. Detectives from the MSP Special Investigation Section continue to pursue investigative leads in the Dee Warner case. During the… pic.twitter.com/m1OJD6bO7k
— MSP First District (@MSPFirstDist) August 18, 2024