“Help Dale Find Dee”: 20/20 Reports on Dee Warner Homicide October 23 2026

ABC’s 20/20 returns on Friday, October 23, 2026, with “Help Dale Find Dee,” a two-hour investigation into the disappearance and murder of Michigan businesswoman Dee Ann Warner. The episode airs at 9/8c and examines a case that began with a missing mother in April 2021 and ended with her husband’s conviction for murder nearly five years later.

Dee Warner, 52, vanished from the 1,500-acre farm she shared with her husband, Dale Warner, in Lenawee County, Michigan. Her disappearance prompted a search led by family members who questioned Dale’s account of her whereabouts. Investigators found her remains more than three years later, concealed inside a welded agricultural fertilizer tank on the couple’s property.

The investigation exposed a troubled marriage, disputes over family businesses, allegations of controlling behaviour and a series of clues that helped prosecutors build their case. On March 10, 2026, a jury convicted Dale Warner of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He received consecutive prison sentences in May, with a combined maximum of 70 years.

• Who Was Dee Warner & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Dale Warner & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• “Blindsided”: Brandon Boudreaux Breaks His Silence on Lori Vallow Daybell Murder Plot on Dateline NBC October 23 2026 Episode
• “What the Cameras Saw”: 48 Hours Reports on Savannah Hancock Tolbert Homicide October 24 2026
• “The Mansion Above Dale Hollow Lake”: 48 Hours Reports on Michael Harding Homicide October 24 2026

Who Was Dee Ann Warner?

Dee Ann Warner was born Dee Ann Hardy on July 29, 1968, and grew up in a Michigan farming family. Her relatives had worked in agriculture for generations, raising dairy cattle and growing crops. She developed a career in the agricultural industry and became a businesswoman with interests in trucking, farming and fertilizer operations.

Dee had four children from her first marriage before meeting Dale Warner through their work in agriculture. The pair came from farming families with a history of business rivalry, but developed a relationship and married in 2006 after leaving their previous spouses.

Their blended family included Dee’s four children, Dale’s four children from his previous marriage and their daughter, Angalena. The couple lived on a large farm in the Tipton area of Franklin Township, where their home and businesses formed the centre of their family life.

Dee managed a trucking company and helped oversee the couple’s agricultural enterprises. Her trucking business experienced success, while other farming and fertilizer operations faced financial challenges. Her brother, Gregg Hardy, described her as an ambitious woman who valued hard work, independence and the respect of others.

Dee and Dale Warner’s Troubled Marriage

Although Dee and Dale shared business interests, their marriage became strained in the years before her death. Family members described differences in their personalities, disputes over money and disagreements about the direction of their businesses.

During Dale’s murder trial, witnesses described a relationship marked by conflict and allegations of controlling behaviour. Dee’s daughter, Rikkell Bock, characterised the marriage as toxic. Testimony and accounts from relatives included allegations that Dale monitored Dee’s movements and placed a tracking device on her vehicle.

Prosecutors presented text messages that showed Dee’s dissatisfaction with the relationship. In one message introduced during the trial, she wrote, “I’m ready to move out and be done with this.” Other messages described the couple as roommates who had lost their connection.

The prosecution argued that Dee wanted to end the marriage and sell their businesses. According to its account, she told Dale about those intentions on the night before her disappearance. Prosecutors identified the potential loss of the marriage and shared business interests as central elements of the motive for her murder.

What Happened to Dee Warner in April 2021?

Dee Warner was last seen during the weekend of April 24–25, 2021. According to Dale’s account, the couple had argued, and he last saw his wife sleeping on a couch at their home. He maintained that she had left the property and suggested she might have gone away following their disagreement.

Concerns emerged on Sunday, April 25, when Dee’s daughter Rikkell Bock arrived for their regular Sunday breakfast and discovered her mother was missing. Dee’s vehicles remained parked at the property, but her phone and some personal belongings were gone.

Her disappearance was out of character, according to relatives who knew her routines and close relationship with her children. Family members became concerned when attempts to contact her failed and she did not return to her home or businesses.

Investigators found no evidence of Dee conducting her normal activities after the weekend. Her phone, bank accounts and social media showed no subsequent activity, and surveillance footage did not establish that she had left the farm. The absence of a confirmed departure became a central issue in the investigation.

Dee Warner’s Family Launches a Search

As the search began, Dee’s brother Gregg Hardy questioned the suggestion that she had walked away from her family and businesses. He believed something had happened to his sister and became one of the leading figures in the campaign to establish her fate.

Hardy assembled a group of approximately 40 people to search the Warner property in the days after her disappearance. Despite the effort, the search failed to locate Dee or produce an explanation for what had happened.

Family members continued to challenge Dale’s account and pressed authorities to investigate the possibility of foul play. Hardy worked with investigative attorney Billy Little Jr., who examined the available evidence, interviewed people connected to the case and raised questions about the circumstances of Dee’s disappearance.

The family’s campaign included public appeals, media interviews and a $50,000 reward for information. The case gained attention beyond Michigan as relatives sought answers and criticised the pace and direction of the investigation.

The Meaning Behind the “Help Dale Find Dee” Billboard

One of the most distinctive elements of the search was a roadside billboard displaying the message “Help Dale Find Dee.” The wording appeared to encourage public assistance for Dee’s husband, but Gregg Hardy intended it as a pointed message about his suspicions.

Hardy believed Dale knew more about Dee’s disappearance than he had disclosed. The billboard placed Dale’s name at the centre of the campaign and challenged the public account that Dee had left without telling her family.

The message reflected the divisions that had emerged around the investigation. Dale maintained that he had not killed his wife, while members of Dee’s family believed she had been murdered and that her remains could be found on the farm.

The billboard became a symbol of the family’s campaign for answers. Its wording also provides the title of ABC’s October 23 episode of 20/20, connecting the television investigation with the public effort that preceded Dale Warner’s arrest.

Michigan State Police Take Over the Investigation

The Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office handled the initial missing-person investigation. As months passed without a breakthrough, Dee’s family continued to demand a more extensive examination of the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Michigan State Police announced in August 2022 that it was taking over the investigation at the request of local authorities. The change brought additional investigative resources to a case in which detectives had no confirmed sighting of Dee after April 2021.

Investigators examined communications, witness accounts, surveillance footage and electronic records associated with the Warner property. They also considered the couple’s financial circumstances and the testimony of people who had witnessed disagreements within their marriage.

The absence of a body complicated the investigation, but authorities continued building a case. The evidence collected during this period formed the basis for the criminal charges that followed, even though Dee’s remains would not be discovered until 2024.

Dale Warner Arrested and Charged With Murder

On November 21, 2023, Michigan State Police announced an arrest in connection with Dee Warner’s death. Dale Warner was charged with murder and tampering with evidence, marking a turning point more than two and a half years after his wife disappeared.

Dale appeared in Lenawee County District Court on November 22 and pleaded not guilty. His bond was set at $20 million. At that stage, prosecutors faced the challenge of pursuing a homicide case without having recovered the victim’s body.

The charges indicated that investigators believed Dee was dead and that her husband was responsible. Prosecutors relied on evidence concerning the couple’s relationship, Dee’s final known movements and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

The arrest did not end the search for Dee. Her family continued to seek her remains, while investigators examined locations and equipment associated with the Warner farming operations.

How Investigators Found Dee Warner’s Body in a Fertilizer Tank

The decisive breakthrough came on August 16, 2024, when investigators executing a search warrant discovered human remains inside an agricultural fertilizer tank on the Warner property. The tank had been used for anhydrous ammonia, a chemical associated with agricultural fertilizer operations.

The container had been sealed with welding, concealing what was inside. Investigators used imaging equipment during their examination and discovered a body within the tank. Michigan State Police confirmed on August 21 that the remains belonged to Dee Warner.

According to evidence described by prosecutors, Dee’s body was wrapped in a tarp, and she was wearing pyjamas. Duct tape was found around her face and neck. Dental records established her identity after more than three years of uncertainty.

The discovery followed a theory advanced by Gregg Hardy, who recalled seeing Dale painting a rusty fertilizer tank after Dee disappeared. Hardy had suggested that a tank could have been altered to conceal a body and then welded shut. His recollection became an important part of the account of how investigators came to examine the equipment.

What Did Dee Warner’s Autopsy Reveal?

The recovery of Dee’s remains allowed forensic specialists to determine how she had died. An autopsy concluded that her death resulted from strangulation and blunt-force trauma involving her head and face.

Those findings established that Dee had been the victim of a homicide and gave prosecutors physical evidence to support the murder charge. The condition and location of her remains also became important to the allegation that Dale had concealed evidence of the crime.

Prosecutors alleged that Dale placed Dee’s body in a safe and used farming machinery to move it before concealing it inside the fertilizer tank. They argued that the tank was welded shut to prevent the remains from being discovered.

For Dee’s family, the identification ended the search for her whereabouts but confirmed their fears about her fate. She was laid to rest on August 30, 2024, more than three years after her disappearance.

Dale Warner’s Murder Trial Begins in February 2026

Dale Warner’s murder trial began on February 12, 2026, in Lenawee County, Michigan. Prosecutors outlined their allegation that Dale killed his wife following a dispute over their marriage and businesses, then concealed her body in agricultural equipment on their property.

The prosecution presented a case built around witness testimony, electronic evidence, forensic findings and the discovery of Dee’s remains. Its central argument was that Dee intended to leave the marriage and sell the businesses, creating a conflict that preceded her death.

The defence challenged the prosecution’s reconstruction of events and argued that the evidence did not establish Dale’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. His attorneys disputed the conclusions drawn from the circumstantial evidence and questioned the case presented against him.

The proceedings lasted several weeks and included testimony from family members, former employees, investigators, forensic specialists and experts who examined vehicle data and electronic records. Jurors were also taken to the Warner property to examine the location connected to the alleged crime.

What Evidence Was Presented Against Dale Warner?

During the trial, prosecutors presented text messages and accounts from witnesses describing the deterioration of Dee and Dale’s marriage. The messages included Dee’s statements about wanting to move out and end the relationship, supporting the prosecution’s argument that separation was imminent.

Jurors heard testimony from Dee’s children and people who worked for the Warner businesses. Madison Wolf, a former nanny and personal assistant, discussed aspects of the couple’s relationship, while other witnesses described disputes involving finances and employees.

Michigan State Police investigators testified about electronic records, surveillance footage and the examination of the Warner property. A General Motors vehicle data investigator and a police cell phone analyst also gave evidence concerning information used to reconstruct events around the time of Dee’s disappearance.

The fertilizer tank became a major focus of the proceedings. A welding expert and investigators discussed its construction and examination, while forensic evidence included fingerprints and the recovery of Dee’s remains. Prosecutors used this material to support their account of how her body was concealed.

The Fertilizer Tank and the Prosecution’s Account of the Murder

Prosecutors alleged that Dale killed Dee after she announced her intention to end their marriage and sell their businesses. They argued that the killing took place during a period of conflict over finances and control of the couple’s assets.

According to the prosecution, Dale concealed Dee’s body in a safe before using agricultural machinery to transport it to the fertilizer tank. The state argued that the container was altered and welded shut to hide her remains.

The prosecution’s reconstruction was supported by testimony about the farm equipment, the tank and the physical evidence recovered during the search. Investigators also examined the significance of the tank’s location and the work performed on it after Dee disappeared.

The defence maintained that the state’s account depended on assumptions and challenged the strength of the evidence linking Dale to the killing. The jury was required to assess the competing explanations alongside the medical findings, witness testimony and physical evidence.

Gregg Hardy Testifies as the Trial Nears Its Conclusion

Gregg Hardy remained involved in the case throughout the investigation and the criminal proceedings. His efforts to find his sister had included public campaigning, cooperation with investigators and scrutiny of the explanations offered for her disappearance.

Hardy testified during the defence portion of the trial in early March 2026. His appearance followed weeks of testimony concerning the Warner marriage, the investigation and the evidence recovered from the fertilizer tank.

The trial also included evidence concerning disagreements between investigative agencies, recorded jail calls and the circumstances surrounding the search that uncovered Dee’s remains. These issues formed part of the wider examination of how the case had developed over nearly five years.

By the time the jury began deliberations, the proceedings had brought together testimony from relatives, employees, investigators and forensic experts. The central question was whether the evidence proved that Dale Warner murdered his wife and concealed her body.

Dale Warner Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder

On March 10, 2026, a Lenawee County jury found Dale Warner guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in connection with Dee Warner’s death.

The verdict followed a trial that examined the breakdown of the couple’s marriage, Dee’s disappearance, the discovery of her body and the prosecution’s reconstruction of the crime. The jury accepted the state’s case that Dale was responsible for his wife’s murder.

The second-degree murder conviction established his criminal responsibility for Dee’s death, while the evidence-tampering conviction addressed the concealment of evidence. The verdict represented a major outcome for relatives who had spent years campaigning for an investigation and prosecution.

Following the conviction, Gregg Hardy described the outcome as a form of justice for his sister, while acknowledging that no court decision could restore what the family had lost. He suggested that the family’s campaign could move from “Justice for Dee” to “Victory for Dee.”

How Long Was Dale Warner Sentenced to Prison?

Dale Warner returned to court for sentencing on May 7, 2026. The judge imposed a sentence of 31 years and three months to 60 years in prison for second-degree murder, together with a consecutive sentence of 17 months to 10 years for tampering with evidence.

The consecutive sentences carry a combined maximum of 70 years. Warner will be eligible for parole after approximately 33 years, although parole eligibility does not guarantee release.

The sentencing brought the criminal trial to a conclusion more than five years after Dee vanished. The judge’s decision reflected the murder conviction and the separate offence involving the concealment of evidence.

In July 2026, Warner was transferred to Alger Correctional Facility in Munising, Michigan, to serve his prison sentence. He was 58 at the time of sentencing.

The Aftermath of Dee Warner’s Murder

The case left Dee Warner’s children and extended family confronting the loss of a mother, sister and businesswoman whose disappearance had remained unresolved for more than three years. The discovery of her remains gave them an opportunity to bury her, while the trial established criminal responsibility for her death.

The investigation also prompted legal proceedings beyond the murder prosecution. Members of Dee’s family pursued matters concerning her legal status and estate, and attorneys filed a civil lawsuit seeking $100 million on behalf of her children. That civil action was separate from the criminal case and its verdict.

The family’s public campaign helped maintain attention on the disappearance during the years before Dale’s arrest. Gregg Hardy’s efforts, the work of Billy Little Jr. and the questions raised about the initial investigation became significant parts of the case’s history.

Dee’s death also attracted national true-crime coverage. Her disappearance was examined in Investigation Discovery’s Disappeared, the Dateline: Missing in America podcast and People Magazine Investigates. NBC’s Dateline revisited the case in July 2026, after Dale’s conviction and sentencing.

When Is 20/20: Help Dale Find Dee on ABC?

“20/20: Help Dale Find Dee” airs Friday, October 23, 2026, at 9/8c on ABC. The new two-hour episode examines Dee Ann Warner’s disappearance, her family’s search for answers, the discovery of her remains and the prosecution of her husband.

The programme revisits a case in which relatives spent years challenging the belief that Dee had abandoned her family. Their campaign continued through the criminal investigation, the discovery of her body and the trial that resulted in Dale Warner’s conviction.

The episode will also be available to stream through Hulu and Disney+. Its title recalls the roadside billboard that became associated with Gregg Hardy’s efforts to uncover what happened to his sister.

Nearly five years after Dee disappeared from her Michigan farm, the criminal case concluded with her husband convicted of murder and sentenced to a prison term that could keep him incarcerated for the rest of his life.