The discovery of human remains on a Michigan man’s property may unravel the mysterious disappearance of his wife two years ago.
At a Glance
- Human remains found on the property of Dale Warner, husband of missing Michigan woman Dee Ann Warner.
- Lenawee County search conducted with judicial approval as part of the investigation.
- Remains not yet identified; recovery and testing are ongoing.
- Dee Ann Warner’s family has been notified of the discovery.
- Dale Warner charged last year with open murder and tampering related to his wife’s disappearance; pleaded not guilty.
Human Remains Discovered
Human remains have been discovered on the property of Dale Warner, the husband of missing Michigan woman, Dee Ann Warner. The grim find potentially sheds light on Dee Ann’s mysterious disappearance dating back to April 2021. Forensic professionals are working on identifying the remains while law enforcement officials scrutinize Dale Warner’s actions further.
The search, conducted with the necessary judicial approval, took place in Lenawee County, Michigan. Warner, who had been married to Dee Ann for 15 years, was charged last year with open murder and tampering with evidence regarding his wife’s disappearance. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Human remains have been found on the property of the husband of Dee Ann Warner, a Michigan woman who has been missing since 2021, police said Sunday. https://t.co/bf2diQP8dF
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 19, 2024
Ongoing Forensic Work
The remains found on Warner’s property have yet to be positively identified, and the process of recovery and testing is still ongoing. State police said in a statement, “The remains are currently in the process of being recovered and there will be a great deal of work and testing completed before positive identification is made.”
As authorities recover and analyze the remains, transparency with the Warner family remains paramount. Dee Ann Warner’s relatives were promptly notified of the discovery. The local community has expressed a growing need for answers and justice, supporting the family’s quest to uncover the truth about Dee Ann’s mysterious disappearance.
Dale Warner’s Legal Troubles
Dale Warner was arrested and charged with murder and tampering with evidence in November 2023. This case presented complications due to the initial absence of Dee Ann’s body, raising questions on why Warner’s property wasn’t searched sooner. Nevertheless, law enforcement’s determination eventually culminated in this significant breakthrough.
“With incredible determination, they have pieced together a very difficult case culminating with an arrest. This arrest is another step in our investigation,” said Captain Steve O’Neill, commander of first district headquarters.
Dale Warner continues to deny any involvement in his wife’s disappearance. As per statements from Warner’s defense, he maintains his innocence, pointing to the lack of direct evidence linking him to Dee Ann’s presumed death. The preliminary hearing scheduled for September 4 might reveal further insights.
A Family’s Quest for Justice
Empty chairs and unanswered questions plague the Warner family. Dee Ann Warner, a mother of five who managed a trucking company and a farming business, was reported missing on April 25, 2021, by three of her adult children. Her family suspects a connection between her disappearance and a business dispute involving Dee Ann, her husband Dale, and some of her employees.
“It was exhilarating in the fact that finally we had something… and then it was reliving that we finally accomplished something after three-and-a-half years of a really steep uphill climb,” said Dee Ann’s brother, Gregg Hardy.
The family’s distress over the past years is palpable, with Rikkell Bock, Dee’s daughter, describing her desperation to uncover what happened to her mother. Allegations of a severe argument between Dee Ann and Dale Warner on the night she vanished further complicate the narrative. Previous phone records indicated a suspicious text message sent from Dee’s phone that did not align with her usual texting style.
Michigan State Police said they found human remains during a search on property belonging to Dale Warner, the husband of Dee Warner who has been missing since 2021. https://t.co/km2FDZAdRu
— Scripps News (@scrippsnews) August 19, 2024
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information related to Dee Warner’s disappearance to contact D/Sgt. Dan Drewyor at 734-242-3500. Meanwhile, forensic tests continue, and the nation watches, hoping for justice.
