On April 25, 2021, Dale Warner, captured on bodycam, recounted his interactions with his wife, Dee, who was last seen sleeping on the couch that morning before he left for work. Despite suspecting that Dee had left intentionally and believing she was alive and well, Dale noticed her personal items missing, and speculated she might be using a secret phone. Dee had been upset the previous night after an argument with employees at the three businesses she and Dale managed from their farm – a trucking business, a farm, and a chemical company. During the investigation, it was revealed that Dee had been facing challenges in running the trucking business due to gender and age biases. The day before her disappearance, she had sought advice on how to handle an employee issue but subsequently stopped communicating with her colleague Stephanie Voelkle. Concerns were raised about Dee’s well-being, with some speculating about the immense pressure she was under.
Hardy stated that there was tension following an argument on both Friday and Saturday, with the situation escalating towards a possible breaking point. When questioned by Erin Moriarty, Dale Warner couldn’t recall a day when his mother’s whereabouts were unknown for a full day. Concerned about Dee’s well-being, those close to her suspected she might have harmed herself, noting Dale’s lack of apparent concern. Dale informed a sheriff’s deputy that Dee had a habit of spending the night away from home when upset. Despite Dale’s belief that Dee would return, law enforcement took action, conducting interviews and property searches in the days following her disappearance. Eventually, Dale disclosed to investigators that he and Dee had argued on Saturday, denying accusations she made against him. The couple, who had been in both a personal and business partnership since 2005, seemed an unlikely match according to friends and family. Dee was described as outgoing and fun-loving, while Dale was portrayed as more reserved and work-focused. Dale’s behavior, such as teasing and exacerbating Dee’s insecurities, was noted by those close to them. Despite Dee’s affair, it was determined that her partner was not involved in her disappearance. A search organized by Dee’s brother took place a week later, covering a large area around her home.
Riarty: Wow. Gregg Hardy: We came up empty-handed. Dee’s family was becoming suspicious of Dale. On the day Dee disappeared, Dale gave different accounts of what happened to each family member. Gregg Hardy mentioned Dee had a migraine, Dale massaged her, she fell asleep on the couch, and Dale left in the morning. Zack heard from Dale that there was a fight, while Rikkell was told it was a minor disagreement. Dale also mentioned Dee leaving her wedding ring behind, which seemed unusual to her family. Gregg doubted Dee would leave her valuable ring or disappear without a trace. As suspicion grew, Gregg confronted Dale about the investigation’s progress and called him a liar. Despite the efforts of Michigan State Police, FBI, and county sheriff, Dee remained missing. Shelley watched a TV show that inspired Gregg to seek help from investigator Billy Little. Gregg believed Dale was involved in Dee’s disappearance but struggled to prove it due to lack of evidence.
Perhaps you will come across the body, or perhaps you won’t. But don’t wait idly for a miracle to happen. You must take action and solve this case. In the spring of 2022, Billy Little made his initial journey to Lenawee County. Little, driving alongside Moriarty in Lenawee County, expressed his primary aim of uncovering the truth and understanding what transpired. Little commenced his own investigation and discovered from Dee’s family that the couple frequently engaged in arguments, particularly about financial matters. Little was informed by Dee’s adult children that despite their mother often mentioning divorce, she was reluctant to share custody of their younger sister Lena with Dale Warner. However, on the day before Dee vanished, something changed. Little was informed that Dee had reached her breaking point and had planned to inform Dale that night about her decision to sell their successful trucking business and end their marriage. Little also learned from Gregg that he suspected Dale of moving money between the businesses following Dee’s disappearance. Gregg had taken legal action to safeguard Dee’s interests and probe Dale’s actions. As more information surfaced, Little, along with the family, grew more convinced that Dee was no longer alive due to the lack of evidence indicating otherwise. Despite Gregg’s sarcastic billboard urging to “Help Dale Find Dee,” Little and Gregg focused on gathering evidence to potentially build a murder case even without a body. Their relentless search for any trace of Dee led them to various locations, including a spot near Dale and Dee’s home where a fire occurred six months after Dee went missing.
Regarding the investigation of the controlled burn in the area, police conducted a search at the site in October 2021, shortly after the incident occurred. However, it remains unclear what information, if any, was obtained during this search. The following year, Gregg Hardy and Little personally visited the location. Gregg Hardy, accompanied by Moriarty, mentioned their use of a drone to survey not only the specific site but also several other areas in the vicinity, capturing footage of thousands of acres. Their efforts did not yield any definitive findings, but they identified several locations that raised suspicions.
Gregg expressed concerns about three to four significant sites, including a field near Rikkell’s residence that Dale had cultivated, as well as another field in a neighboring town where Dale had access. Gregg urged the authorities to further investigate numerous other sites he found questionable. The extensive search for evidence continued, with Gregg highlighting the challenge of the vast number of places to explore.
In August 2022, the Michigan State Police assumed control of Dee’s case following advocacy from Gregg and Little, citing the state police’s expertise and resources as advantageous compared to the county sheriff’s office. After taking over the investigation, the state police re-interviewed Dale, probing details of his account. Dale disclosed that an argument with an employee prior to Dee’s disappearance centered partly on allegations of her embezzling money from the business. Nonetheless, law enforcement lacked concrete evidence to support the claims of financial misconduct by Dee.
Subsequently, in September, the family sought a legal declaration of Dee Warner’s death, positioning themselves for possible legal action against Dale in the future. The family’s pursuit of justice was met with uncertainty as they awaited updates on the criminal case. Eventually, on November 21, 2023, Dale Warner was arrested on charges of murdering his wife, Dee, marking a significant development in the case. The news of Dale’s arrest was received with mixed emotions by Dee’s loved ones, who prepared for a protracted legal battle ahead.
During Dale’s preliminary hearing on May 1, 2024, attendees, including friends and family of Dee, gathered at the Lenawee County District Court. As the proceedings commenced, witnesses, like Rikkell Bock, offered their testimonies with a sense of trepidation. The defense raised concerns about the lack of physical evidence, emphasizing the government’s obligation to prove Dee’s death beyond doubt. Judge Anna Frushour would ultimately determine whether the case advanced to trial, setting the stage for a critical juncture in the pursuit of justice for Dee Warner.
Although there was no body, there was also no indication that Dee was still alive. During the court proceedings, Jackie Wyse questioned Stephanie Voelkle about Dee Warner’s whereabouts. Voelkle confirmed she had not seen or heard from Dee since April 24th, 2021. Wyse probed further about a secret phone that Dale claimed his wife possessed. Voelkle disclosed that Dee had discussed getting a second phone with her and had asked for help finding one, but it was never purchased. Voelkle mentioned that Dee could have bought the phone herself but would have needed assistance setting it up due to her lack of tech savviness.
Detective Daniel Drewyor, the lead investigator on the case, testified about the extensive searches conducted by law enforcement to locate any activity related to Dee over the three years she had been missing. Despite numerous search warrants and investigations into healthcare records, phone records, social media, and land searches, no evidence was found. Rikkell Bock, Dee’s daughter, noticed tire tracks near the back of the Warner home on the day her mother disappeared. She testified that the tracks led up to the sliding glass door, raising suspicions about Dale Warner using the farm’s front-end loader to remove Dee’s body from the house.
During a police interview in December 2022, Dale Warner explained that the tracks were from him retrieving a worksheet for the sprayer early in the morning. The defense highlighted the lack of evidence linking Dale to Dee’s disappearance and presented security videos from the farm that supported his account of the events that morning. The prosecution suggested that the tracks seen by Rikkell were from Dale using the loader to dispose of Dee’s body, but the defense argued against this theory. Detective Drewyor confirmed in court that there was no evidence indicating Dee’s death or murder.
Mary Chartier asked Detective Drewyor in court if they had the sprayer records for the John Deere and if they conducted a sprayer reenactment. Detective Drewyor confirmed that they did, consistent with the events of the morning in question. Dale Warner, who pleaded not guilty, attended his preliminary hearing in the case involving his missing and allegedly murdered wife, Dee Warner, as a judge determined if the case would proceed to trial. The defense highlighted Dale’s cooperation with authorities, emphasizing that he had consistently denied harming Dee.
Mary Chartier pointed out in court that Dale had never admitted to harming his wife in any of his interactions with law enforcement. The defense stressed the lack of physical evidence in the case, including a murder weapon or significant blood evidence. Prosecutor Jackie Wyse argued that there was sufficient probable cause to believe Dale had killed Dee. Judge Anna Frushour ultimately ruled that there was probable cause to believe Dee had been killed by Dale and ordered him to stand trial for her murder. Dale’s supporters expressed concern about the upcoming trial, while the reality of the situation sank in for Dee’s family.
Title: Discovery of Dee Warner’s Remains in Fertilizer Tank Shocks Family
Law enforcement continued their search for physical evidence, and in August 2024, just two months after the preliminary hearing, they made a significant discovery. Dee Warner’s family was the first to learn about it.
Rikkell Bock received a message urging an emergency meeting with the detectives. The family then met with authorities at Gregg and Shelley Hardy’s farm, where they were informed that a large metal tank used for storing fertilizer had been removed from a property owned by Dale and Dee Warner. This tank, with a “non-factory weld on the back” and a “do not fill” sign, contained the chilling truth: Dee Warner’s body was found inside.
Dee’s remains, hidden in plain sight in the fertilizer tank on her property, were identified after only a few days. Her death was determined to be a homicide, though the exact cause was not disclosed by authorities.
Security footage from the day Dee went missing showed Dale Warner near welding equipment in one of the farm buildings. For three years, authorities had been searching for Dee’s body underground, only to discover it concealed above ground in the tank.
Gregg Hardy, a family member, expressed his belief that Dale was responsible for Dee’s death and the hiding of her body. Despite Dale’s insistence on his innocence, the family remains convinced of his guilt.
Following the identification of Dee’s body, the family held a private burial to lay her to rest. The emotional toll of her loss has deeply affected her loved ones, with Dee’s children reflecting on how her death has transformed their lives.
The discovery of Dee Warner’s remains in the fertilizer tank was a shocking and devastating revelation for her family, who continue to seek justice for her untimely death.
There is nothing left to lose. Rikkell Bock describes his mother as a spirited individual, embodying traits of hard work, drive, and determination. Erin Moriarty emphasizes that Rikkell’s children will undoubtedly grow up hearing tales about Dee, prompting Rikkell to reflect on what he will share about his mother with them. He fondly remembers how much his mom cherished being a grandmother and envisions his children forever holding onto the memories of her presence in their lives. With a sense of longing, Rikkell envisions the moments his mother would have been there for, expressing deep regret that she will not be able to partake in those experiences. Dale Warner’s trial is set to commence on September 2, 2025. The production team behind this insightful piece includes Sarah Prior as the producer, Cindy Cesare as the development producer, Chelsea Narvaez as the field producer, and Doreen Schechter, Diana Modica, and Joan Adelman as the editors. Lourdes Aguiar serves as the senior producer, with Nancy Kramer holding the role of executive story editor, and Judy Tygard as the executive producer. Recent revelations shed light on the military helicopter involved in a midair collision, while attention also turns to understanding the individuals affected by the tragic D.C. midair plane crash. In confirmation hearings, Senators engage with figures such as Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and RFK Jr., seeking clarity on various matters.
