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20/20's episode titled Help Dale Find Dee revisits the shocking disappearance and murder of a 52-year-old Michigan businesswoman named Dee Warner. She disappeared from her farm located in Tipton, Michigan. The 2-hour special episode revealed that charges were filed against her husband, Dale Warner.
ABC News revealed that Dee was upset when she left home on April 25, 2021. Dee just vanished on that day without a trace and stopped answering phone calls or messages from her family and friends. This triggered an investigation that continued for years.
The police discovered a suspicious anhydrous tank, which was a large pressurized metal container on Dale's property. The tank appeared unusual because it had been freshly painted and had a sticker with a tagline, 'do not use.' After examining it with an X-ray, investigators found Dee's body inside. She was dressed in her pajamas, barefoot, and wrapped in a tarp.
Continue reading more about the story.
20/20: What really happened to Dee Warner?
According to 20/20's Help Dale Find Dee, the 52-year-old Michigan businesswoman was a resident of a small southeastern Michigan community. She was known for her strong-willed personality and deep concern for the people around her. Dee's daughter, Rikkel Bock, shared with ABC News' Linsey Davis,
"She was a vibrant, loving, nurturing. Always somebody that was wanting to take care of people."
CBS News revealed that on April 25, 2021, Rikkel arrived at her mother's home with her partner and two children, but Dee was not there. Rikkel became worried after her mother failed to answer her calls and messages.
Dee's husband, Dale, said that he saw his wife at 6 a.m. that day before leaving to spray crops on the farm they operated together. When Dee could not be reached and remained missing, her children contacted police that evening to report her disappearance.
At first, Dale revealed to the authorities that they had argued the night before she went missing and maintained that he didn't know where she was. The police found that Dee had taken her toiletry bag and hair styling gadgets, while her wedding ring had been left on Dale's desk. After requesting a location ping from Dee's phone, the investigators discovered that her cellphone had been switched off since 7:14 a.m.
Dee's friend, Stephanie Voelkle, revealed that Dee had planned to tell her husband that she wanted a divorce. Dee’s brother, Gregg Hardy, paid for a billboard carrying the message 'Help Dale Find Dee' in an effort to increase pressure on his brother-in-law.
Public frustration continued to grow as residents called for the Michigan State Police to take control of the investigation, with some gathering in the streets and protesting ‘Jail for Dale.’ As the pressure intensified, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office eventually transferred the case to the Michigan State Police.
20/20: Where did the police find Dee Warner?
Investigators found that Dale had conducted an online search and viewed a video explaining how to bury a 1,000-gallon propane tank. As the investigation continued, the Michigan State Police carried out an extensive search of the couple’s 1,500-acre property. The police believed that Dee might be buried somewhere on the property, so search teams carefully examined underground areas across the land.
20/20's Help Dale Find Dee revealed that the investigators found a suspicious anhydrous tank on the property of Dee's husband. The container drew attention because the paint felt new and a sticker was displayed with a warning, 'Do not use.' After conducting an X-ray examination, authorities found Dee's body stored inside the tank.
Dee was found barefoot, dressed in her pajamas, and wrapped in a tarp. The environment inside the tank helped preserve her body. After the examination, medical experts concluded that she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
20/20: What happened with Dale Warner?
During Dale Warner's trial in February 2026, prosecutors argued that he had killed his wife and stored her body inside a tank. The jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to 70 years in prison. Later, his attorney stated that he planned to file an appeal.
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