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A jury convicted Dale John Warner on March 10, 2026, of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence for killing his wife, Dee Ann Warner, in April 2021 and concealing her body in a fertilizer tank in Lenawee County, Michigan.

Dee Ann Warner (nee Hardy), 52, was a mother of five who lived with Dale Warner, her second husband, and their young child in Franklin Township. She had adult children from a prior marriage. Family members, including daughter Rikkell Bock, described the marriage as extremely toxic, with alleged domestic violence, stalking and a tracking device on Dee's car. The reported motive centered on the abusive marital relationship, and no separate financial motive was the primary focus in verified reports of the conviction.

Dee disappeared on or about the night of April 24-25, 2021, from the family's Munger Road property. She was last known to have planned to meet her husband, her phone, bank and social media activity ceased, and cameras never showed her leaving. Prosecutors established that Dale killed her and concealed her remains inside tank No. 34, a rewelded anhydrous ammonia tank on a related Paragon Road property. Her remains were wrapped in a tarp, and she was wearing pajamas with duct tape over her face and neck.

The tank had been cut open with an abrasive cutoff wheel, rewelded through gas metal arc welding, tagged as unusable and later moved with heavy equipment. Days after Dee disappeared, Dale told officers it was not unusual for her to leave. Body-camera footage showed him acting nonchalantly, and officers noted possible welding burns on his arms. Extensive searches of fields and properties from 2021 through 2023 found no body. Michigan State Police took over the case around 2022-2023.

Digital evidence included a May 2021 search on Dale's iPad for "how to dispose of a thousand-gallon propane tank" and April 25, 2021, surveillance showing him gathering welding supplies. Investigators located the rewelded tank through a search warrant after following digital leads, and an X-ray and camera inspection revealed remains. Evidence included Dale's fingerprint on an ammonia sticker and expert confirmation that the welding matched the tools and processes used. After being told cadaver dogs were coming, Dale moved the tank with a JCB excavator while officers were present.

The remains were discovered August 16-17, 2024, on the Paragon Road property and identified through dental records. Dale had been arrested and charged with murder and evidence tampering in November 2023, before the body was recovered. His statements included early efforts to minimize the disappearance and later claims in some proceedings that Dee was with a drug cartel in Jamaica.

Dale's son and Dee's stepson, Jaron Warner, was arrested in March 2025 on charges of evidence tampering and accessory after the fact. Prosecutors dismissed all charges in May 2025 because they could not locate a witness, though the charges could potentially be refiled. Jaron was not convicted.

Lenawee County Judge Michael R. Olsaver sentenced Dale on May 7, 2026, to 31 years and 3 months (375 months) to 60 years for second-degree murder, plus a consecutive 17 months to 10 years for evidence tampering. He received credit for approximately 898 days served.

The video is a police interview-room recording running about 58 minutes. It presents the interview itself, without narration or a presenter.