Human remains pulled from a welded anhydrous ammonia tank on rural Tipton farmland are believed by family members to be those of missing mother Dee Warner, who vanished in April 2021. The tank was located during a search of property tied to her husband, local farmer Dale Warner, and that discovery pushed Michigan State Police to treat the long-running missing person case as a homicide. Dale Warner has since been charged and is awaiting proceedings in Lenawee County.
Michigan State Police say the remains were recovered in mid August 2024 during the execution of a search warrant from a tank normally used to store anhydrous ammonia that had been kept in a secluded barn off Paragon Road, as reported by WTVG. Investigators removed the cylinder and had it imaged before opening it, and family members told local reporters that the remains were found wrapped in a tarp. At the time, authorities said further testing would be needed before they could publicly confirm the identity.
Autopsy, Identification And Homicide Ruling
The Jackson County medical examiner conducted an autopsy, and state police later announced that the remains had been positively identified and the death ruled a homicide, according to CBS Detroit. Officials have not released full details about the cause of death while the investigation and court case continue. Relatives said the confirmation brought a measure of closure after years of searching fields, barns and ditches for any sign of Dee.
Family Account Of The Tank
Dee Warner’s brother, Gregg Hardy, told reporters he grew suspicious of an older tank that looked refurbished and was stored apart from other equipment, and he pushed investigators to take a closer look at it, ClickOnDetroit reports. Hardy recalled seeing X ray images that appeared to show a human form inside and said the cylinder had been welded shut and repainted so it would blend in with other farm machinery. That tip from the family ultimately sent investigators back to the Paragon Road property and to the tank that had largely faded into the background of the operation.
Charges And Courtroom Status
Dale Warner was arrested in November 2023 and is charged with open murder and tampering with evidence. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held on a multi million dollar bond, according to FOX 2 Detroit. At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors argued there was enough evidence to bind Warner over for trial, a ruling that kept the criminal case moving forward after earlier delays and disputes. The family has also filed civil claims connected to Dee’s disappearance and death.
What To Expect At Trial
Jury selection and opening statements started in February 2026, and prosecutors told jurors they would present evidence that Dee was killed and then hidden, including testimony about the tank and the condition of the remains, as reported by People. Local timelines have tracked the case from Dee’s April 2021 disappearance through the 2024 discovery and the flurry of subsequent legal filings, spotlighting investigative roadblocks along with the family’s $100 million wrongful death lawsuit, per WXYZ. In the coming weeks, the courtroom fight will center on whether prosecutors can turn a mix of circumstantial and physical evidence into convictions.
.jpg){kind=link}