Full Breakdown
Dale Warner Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Wife’s Disappearance
8/1/2026, 2:39:21 PM
Core Event: Conviction and Sentencing
Tecumseh farmer Dale Warner was found guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence for the 2021 killing of his wife, Dee Warner. A Lenawe County Circuit Court jury reached the verdict in March after a trial that began in January, deliberating for nine hours over two days. Judge Michael Olsaver sentenced Warner to a minimum of 31 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison.
Background & Context
Dee Warner, a 52-year-old mother of five, vanished from the family home on Munger Road in Franklin Township in April 2021. The night before her disappearance, she, Dale, and one or two farm workers argued over the finances of the Warners’ farming businesses. Police noted that Warner told investigators he last saw his wife sleeping on the sofa before leaving for work at 6 a.m., and that he was not alarmed because she had previously left after fights. His account contained multiple inconsistencies.
The Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office initially led the investigation, but in August 2023 the Michigan State Police assumed control. The search, which lasted three years, employed cadaver dogs, ground-penetrating radar, and forensic excavations. In 2024, investigators uncovered Dee’s remains inside a sealed fertilizer tank on the Warners’ farm, two miles from their home. The tank had been cut open, resealed, repainted, and marked “Do not use.” An autopsy determined she had been strangled before being placed in the tank.
A wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Dee’s family in 2025 described Dale Warner as controlling and violent, alleging he once tossed his wife into a dresser during an argument and had asked a farm worker to purchase a GPS tracker for her car and another to copy the contents of her phone. The suit seeks $100 million in damages.
Data & Statistics
- Sentence: 31 to 60 years imprisonment.
- Search duration: three years (2021-2024).
- Jury deliberation: nine hours across two days.
- Body location: fertilizer tank on farm, tagged “Do not use.”
- Dee Warner’s age at disappearance: 52; mother of five children.
Official Statements & Responses
Police highlighted the inconsistencies in Warner’s statements and the extensive forensic work that led to the discovery of the body.
Sheriff’s detective Kevin Greca, who was involved in the original investigation, was arrested in Ohio in December 2024 after allegedly resisting efforts by prosecutors to secure his testimony at the murder trial. His potential testimony remains unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Unfortunately, this is one of those tragedies where the chapter doesn't always end,” — Michael Olsaver, county circuit judge
Media Coverage
NBC’s “Dateline” aired an episode titled “The Day Dee Disappeared” on July 31 at 10 p.m. ET, detailing the investigation, forensic breakthroughs, and Warner’s conviction.
What’s Next
Following sentencing, Warner has been transferred to a new correctional facility. No further court dates or appeals have been announced.
