Brother of missing mother Dee Warner criticises 'roadblocks' in three-and-a-half-year search after 'body found on husband's property'

Human remains were discovered on the property of a Michigan man accused of murdering his wife, who disappeared three years ago.

Dee Warner, 52, disappeared in April 2021 after she was last seen at her home in Tipton, Michigan, about 30 miles southwest of Ann Arbor.

Dee Warner has been missing since April 2021Photo credit: Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office

Her brother Gregg Hardy criticized the “obstacles” that have delayed the investigation into her disappearancePhoto credit: WXYZ

Dee's husband Dale Warner was charged with murder in the case — Dee’s husband Dale Warner was charged with murder in the casePhoto credit: Click On Detroit 4

Investigators recently discovered human remains in a tank on his propertyPhoto credit: WXYZ

Her family has now sharply criticized the “obstacles” that have delayed the search for the mother of four.

On Sunday, officials announced that human remains were discovered on the property of Dale Warner, Dee’s husband.

The identity of the remains has not yet been released, and an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, Dee’s brother Gregg Hardy told The Daily Telegram.

After the remains were found, Hardy criticized the long wait for updated information on his sister’s case.

“There were all kinds of obstacles,” he told local CBS affiliate WTOL.

“It was, to be honest, an absolutely hopeless fight.”

MISSING

Dee was last seen on April 25, 2021 at her home on Munger Road in Tipton.

The US Sun had previously reported that the mother of four children had “had no contact with her family and friends by phone or Facebook” since her disappearance.

In the years that followed, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, FBI and other law enforcement agencies searched for possible remains.

According to NBC affiliate WDIV, Dee’s home and property were first searched with dogs and radar in October 2021.

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The Michigan State Police reportedly took over the investigation in August 2022.

In May of last year, state police announced that additional searches for remains would be conducted in Lenawee Country.

HUSBAND ACCUSED

Six months later, Dee’s husband was charged with murder in connection with her disappearance.

Dale, 56, was charged with murder and evidence tampering following his arrest in November 2023.

Investigation into the disappearance of Dee Warner

Dee Warner, 52, has been missing for three and a half years

April 25, 2021: Dee was reported missing
June 2021: The investigation into her disappearance was closed, but resumed a few months later
October 2021: Dee’s property searched for remains
August 2022: Michigan State Police takes over the investigation
May 2023: Police announce additional searches are taking place in Lenawee County
November 2023: Dee’s husband Dale Warner is arrested and charged with murder
August 18, 2024: Officials announced that human remains were discovered in a welded tank on Dale’s property
August 20, 2024: Autopsy of remains planned
September 4, 2024: Dale is scheduled to appear in court for his trial

He remains in custody at the Lenawee County Jail on $15 million bail.

According to The Daily Telegram, Dale’s next court date is expected on September 4.

Prosecutors believe Dale murdered his wife after an argument on the night she was last seen in 2021.

Earlier this summer, a judge ruled that investigators had presented enough evidence to put Dale on trial.

Dee's brother worked with police to discover the suspicious tank on Dale's property — Dee’s brother worked with police to discover the suspicious tank on Dale’s propertyPhoto credit: AP

Investigators believe Dee was killed by Dale after an argumentPhoto credit: Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office

Officials began searching for remains in October 2021Photo credit: WXYZ

The evidence presented included body camera footage from the day after Dee was reported missing, according to WDIV.

In the footage you can see how calm Dale is during his conversation with the officer.

“She’s gone, she took all her luggage with her,” he is heard saying.

“So someone took it, so it’s with someone somewhere.”

A friend of Dee’s also testified that the Michigan mother had alleged that the relationship was abusive.

“The very last thing she ever said to me was that she was tired and that it was time to talk to a lawyer,” the friend reportedly testified.

Dee was pronounced dead in March.

Remains found

The Michigan State Police Special Investigations Division recently discovered the remains on property owned by Dale.

Hardy told The Daily Telegram that the remains appeared to be buried in a tank of anhydrous ammonia, which is used to fertilize corn.

He claimed that the tank appeared to have been cut open, welded shut and then painted.

The remains were discovered after Hardy spoke to police about the tank that Dale allegedly painted after his sister disappeared.

“It occurred to me at the time that I found what he was doing and why he was doing it very unusual,” Hardy told the Daily Telegram.

Police reportedly showed Hardy a video of Dale allegedly taking welding equipment into a sprayer shed around the same time.

Hardy explained to the outlet that it was odd to be welding in the barn because the fertilizer could corrode the equipment.

“I told them it would certainly be beyond anyone’s imagination, but it would be the perfect place to put a body if he could,” Hardy said.

After further cooperation with the police, the tank was discovered by the police and brought to Detroit.

There, investigators reportedly used X-ray technology and discovered remains inside.

After opening the tank, they found the remains wrapped in a blue tarp.

Hardy told The Daily Telegram that he was still shocked by the discovery.

“Although it seems so far-fetched, it still seems unreal to me that he was able to knowingly cut open the tank, put her body in it and seal it. And he knew that he spoke to me twice when I was standing just three feet away from the tank and another time to my son when he was standing just three feet away from the tank where my sister’s body lay,” he said.

“That’s pretty nasty, isn’t it?”