Dale John Warner, 53, of Tipton, Michigan, has been charged with the murder of his wife, Dee Warner, who disappeared in April 2021. Dee, 52, was last seen at their home on Mugner Road in Tipton. Following her disappearance, her cellphone became inactive, and there was no further activity on her bank accounts.
Dee Warner, who ran her own trucking company from her home, had been missing for two weeks before her family sought public assistance through Crime Stoppers on May 6, 2021. The initial investigation by Lenawee County deputies was later escalated with the involvement of Michigan State Police and the FBI. The authorities conducted extensive searches, including the use of ground-penetrating radar, to locate Dee’s body.
On May 2, 2023, Michigan State Police disclosed a search along M-50 in Lenawee County for leads related to Warner’s case. However, details following this search were not provided.
The breakthrough in the case came on November 21, 2023, when Michigan State Police announced Dale Warner’s arrest, culminating 20 months of intensive investigation. The arrest was executed by detectives from the Michigan State Police First District Special Investigations Section at Warner’s residence.
Dale Warner is facing charges of open murder and tampering with evidence. He was arraigned on November 22, 2023, at the 2A District Court in Lenawee County, with bail set at $20 million. A bond hearing is scheduled for November 27.
Captain Steve O’Neill of the Michigan State Police First District expressed pride in the detectives’ dedication to the case, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to locate Dee Warner’s remains. Detective First Lt. Michael Dillon acknowledged the unique challenges of investigating a no-body homicide and expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation.
Dee Warner’s family, including her brother Gregg Hardy, suspects she was a victim of domestic violence. Hardy lamented the prolonged suffering the family endured, which he believes could have been avoided.
The investigation remains active, with authorities continuing their search for Dee Warner’s body. Michigan State Police Monroe Post encourages anyone with additional information to come forward, assuring anonymity for callers at 734-242-3500.
