> At a Glance
> – Dee Warner, 52, vanished from her Tipton, Michigan farm on April 25, 2021
> – Husband Dale Warner charged with murder and tampering with evidence on Nov. 22, 2023
> – Body discovered in fertilizer tank on family property after three-year investigation
> – Why it matters: The case exposes how financial disputes and alleged forgery led to a shocking small-town murder
Dee Warner’s disappearance haunted her rural Michigan community for years until a breakthrough finally revealed her body hidden in plain sight-inside a fertilizer tank on land she once helped manage.
Last Day Seen
Nephew Parker Hardy visited the 1,500-acre farm on April 23, 2021, and noticed his usually vibrant aunt seemed “defeated.” Two days later, daughter Rikkell Bock arrived for their regular Sunday breakfast and found the house empty.
Dale claimed he last saw Dee sleeping on the couch early that morning. He told family she’d left her $40,000 wedding ring on his desk and predicted she’d return-just like she always did.
Missing items included:
- Overnight bag
- Curling iron
- Makeup bag
- Phone
- Purse
Marriage Under Strain
The couple built farming, fertilizer, and trucking businesses together after marrying in 2006, but financial pressures created deep fractures. While Dee’s trucking company thrived, their other ventures struggled.
On the day Parker noticed Dee’s changed mood, she’d clashed with two trucking company employees over finances. Dale failed to support her, according to daughter Bock, who testified Dee planned to divorce and liquidate assets.
Timeline of Key Events:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 23, 2021 | Dee confronts employees; nephew notices mood change |
| April 25, 2021 | Dee reported missing |
| Nov. 22, 2023 | Dale charged with murder |
| Aug. 30, 2024 | Family holds burial ceremony |
The Breakthrough
Gregg Hardy, Dee’s brother, worked with investigators and private detectives. Electronic data eventually traced Dee’s last known location to a barn where Dale had been painting a rust-covered fertilizer tank days after her disappearance.
When Gregg shared his theory about the tank, detectives returned with an X-ray image revealing a well-preserved body inside. Dental records confirmed it was Dee Warner.
Dale’s attorneys argue he wasn’t the only person on the property when Dee vanished. Prosecutors claim he orchestrated a detailed plan to dispose of her body.
Justice Delayed
The family endured three and a half years without answers. During that time, Gregg alleges Dale forged Dee’s signature to transfer assets from her trucking business to a new company he created after her disappearance.
Dale pleaded not guilty and remains in Lenawee County Jail awaiting trial scheduled for January 27.
Key Takeaways:
- Dee Warner’s body was found in a fertilizer tank on family property
- Husband Dale faces murder charges with trial set for January 27
- Family suspects financial motives behind the alleged crime
- Investigation spanned three years before breakthrough discovery
The case will be featured on People Magazine Investigates: Vanished in the Heartland, airing January 12 at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery and streaming on Max.
