Michigan Farmer Charged in Wife’s Disappearance Despite No Body Found

TIPTON, Mich. — Dee Warner, a 52-year-old mother and businesswoman, vanished without a trace on April 25, 2021, from her rural Lenawee County farm. Her disappearance has since spiraled into a high-profile murder case, culminating in the arrest of her husband, Dale Warner, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of open murder and evidence tampering.

Warner was last seen by her daughter, Rikkell Bock, who grew concerned when her mother failed to show up for their weekly Sunday breakfast. Both of Dee Warner’s cars remained on the property, and her phone went unanswered—behavior Bock described as highly unusual. “If my mom could glue her phone to her hand, she would,” Bock told CBS News’ “48 Hours.”

Dee and Dale Warner operated multiple businesses from their farm, including a trucking company, a farming operation, and a chemical company. Friends and family described Dee as a tough, generous, and hardworking businesswoman. The day before her disappearance, Dee had reportedly been in a heated argument with two employees from the trucking business, leaving her visibly upset.

When police arrived at the Warner home, Dale Warner told investigators that his wife had taken her makeup bag, hair dryer, and curling iron, suggesting she might have left voluntarily. He also noted that Dee had a history of leaving when upset. However, Dee’s brother, Gregg Hardy, grew suspicious of Dale’s behavior. Hardy organized a search party of 50 people to scour the farmland but found no trace of his sister.

As months passed without answers, Hardy enlisted the help of attorney and investigator Billy Little. Together, they launched a public campaign to pressure Dale Warner, including erecting a billboard near the Warner home that read, “Help Dale Find Dee.” The billboard was intended to shame Dale and draw attention to the case.

In August 2022, the Michigan State Police took over the investigation, with assistance from the FBI. Despite extensive searches, no body or physical evidence was found until August 2024, when police discovered Dee Warner’s remains hidden in an anhydrous ammonia tank on property owned by the Warners, about a mile from their home.

Dale Warner was arrested in November 2023 and charged with murder. His trial is set to begin on Sept. 2, 2025, in Lenawee County Circuit Court. Warner’s attorney has maintained his client’s innocence, stating, “Mr. Warner maintains his innocence, and we are prepared to vigorously fight for him in court and present his defense.”

The case has drawn national attention, with CBS’ “48 Hours” set to air a special episode titled “The No Body Case of Dee Warner” on Feb. 1, 2025. The episode will delve into the investigation, the discovery of Dee’s remains, and the legal battle ahead.