Dee Ann Warner, also known as Dee Warner, disappeared from Franklin Township, Michigan, on the night of April 24, 2021. Her disappearance was treated as a suspected murder from the outset. After that night, her phone, bank account, and social media showed no further activity, and she was never captured on camera leaving the property.
According to testimony from her daughter, Rikkell Bock, Dee Warner was in what she described as an "extremely toxic" relationship with her husband, Dale Warner, who she said stalked her, placed a tracking device on her car, and committed domestic violence against her. Dee Warner's brother, Gregg Hardy, said he had seen signs that his sister was being abused but did not recognize them as such at the time.
The Lenawee County Sheriff's Office initially investigated the disappearance. At its request, the Michigan State Police announced on August 9, 2023, that it was taking over the investigation.
On November 21, 2023, the Michigan State Police announced that it had made an arrest in connection with Warner's murder. The following day, November 22, 2023, Dale John Warner, Dee Ann Warner's husband, was charged with her murder and with tampering with evidence.
Warner's body was discovered by police on August 17, 2024, while officers were executing a search warrant on Dale Warner's property on Paragon Road. The body was found inside a resealed anhydrous tank similar to a residential propane storage tank.
On March 10, 2026, Dale Warner was found guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced on May 7, 2026, to 70 years in prison.
The case drew local media attention in Lenawee County and the surrounding area before drawing interest from true-crime outlets. It was featured on an episode of NBC's Dateline: Missing in America podcast, on an October 2022 episode of Investigation Discovery's Disappeared titled "Vanished in the Heartland," and on a January 2026 episode of Investigation Discovery's People Magazine Investigates carrying the same title. Retired homicide detective Chris McDonough also discussed the case on his podcast, The Interview Room, in an interview with Billy Little Jr., the family's investigative attorney.
Dee Ann Warner disappeared from Franklin Township, Michigan, on the night of April 24, 2021; her phone, bank account, and social media showed no further activity afterward, and she was never captured on camera leaving the property.
2023-08-09
At the request of the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office, the Michigan State Police announced it was taking over the investigation into Warner's disappearance.
2023-11-21
The Michigan State Police announced that it had made an arrest in connection with Warner's murder.
2023-11-22
Dee Ann Warner's husband, Dale John Warner, was charged with her murder and with tampering with evidence.
2024-08-17
Police discovered Warner's body while executing a search warrant on Dale Warner's Paragon Road property; the body was found inside a resealed anhydrous tank similar to a residential propane storage tank.
2026-03-10
Dale Warner was found guilty of second-degree murder.
2026-05-07
Dale Warner was sentenced to 70 years in prison.
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Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
48 Hours / 42 min
The “No Body” Case of Dee Warner | Full Episode
People
Dee Ann Warner
VICTIM
Disappeared from Franklin Township, Michigan, in April 2021; her remains were found on her husband's property in August 2024.
Dale John Warner
CONVICTED
Husband of Dee Ann Warner; charged with her murder and tampering with evidence in November 2023, found guilty of second-degree murder on March 10, 2026, and sentenced to 70 years in prison on May 7, 2026.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Dee Ann Warner disappeared from her Franklin Township, Michigan home in April 2021. Her husband, Dale John Warner, was charged with her murder in November 2023; her remains were found on his property in August 2024, and in 2026 he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison.
Where did the disappearance happen?
Franklin Township, Michigan.
Who was convicted?
Dale John Warner (Husband of Dee Ann Warner; charged with her murder and tampering with evidence in November 2023, found guilty of second-degree murder on March 10, 2026, and sentenced to 70 years in prison on May 7, 2026.).
