Michigan Jury Finds Dale Warner Guilty of Second Degree Murder in Case of Wife Hidden in Fertilizer Tank

A Michigan jury has found Dale Warner guilty of second degree murder after his wife's body was discovered in a fertilizer tank three years after her disappearance.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 9:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PEOPLE

The Conclusion of a Long Term Missing Persons Case

A legal saga that began in the hamlet of Tipton in 2021 has reached a decisive verdict in a Michigan courtroom. Dale Warner was found guilty on Tuesday, March 10, for the murder of his wife, Dee Warner. Dee originally vanished from the couple's farm in April 2021, sparking a massive search effort that lasted until August 2024, when her body was finally located inside a large fertilizer tank on a property owned by the family. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was strangulation combined with blunt force trauma to the head and face.

Evidence of Domestic Strife and Divorce Plans

During the trial, which commenced in February, prosecutors presented evidence suggesting a motive rooted in domestic conflict. Text messages revealed that on the night before she was killed, Dee had informed her husband that she wanted a divorce and intended to sell their shared businesses. In one message, she described the pair as "just roommates" and expressed that she was "ready to move out." This digital trail provided critical context for the jury, illustrating a relationship that had deteriorated significantly before the fatal encounter.

Emotional Verdict for the Warner Family

As the verdict was read in Lenawee County Circuit Court, the atmosphere was reportedly heavy with emotion. Dale Warner was observed looking down while loved ones of the victim wept and embraced one another. Dee’s brother, Gregg Hardy, who spearheaded the "Justice for Dee" campaign, expressed a profound sense of relief after the proceedings. Hardy had spent years campaigning for an arrest and conviction, stating that it took nearly to the very end of the five year struggle to finally receive validation from the justice system.