It was a Sunday morning in April 2021 when Rikkell Bock pulled up to her mother’s farm in Lenawee County, Michigan. They had plans for breakfast. But the house was quiet. Too quiet. Her mother, Dee Warner, was a woman who basically lived with her phone glued to her hand, yet she wasn't answering texts. She wasn't anywhere to be found.
Fast forward nearly five years. We’ve seen the headlines, the billboards, and finally, the 48 hours dee warner episode titled "The 'No Body' Case of Dee Warner," which aired as the case took a sharp, macabre turn. It’s the kind of story that makes you double-check your locks, not because of strangers, but because of the people inside the house.
A Disappearance Without a Trace
Dee Warner wasn't just a mom; she was a powerhouse. She ran a trucking business, a farming operation, and a seed company. People in Tecumseh knew her as tough. Generous, too, but mostly someone who didn't just "vanish."
When she went missing, her husband, Dale Warner, had a story ready. He told police and family they’d had a scrap—a "toxic" argument, as some described it—the night before. He claimed he saw her sleeping on the couch early that morning before he went out to spray the fields. He even pointed out that her curling iron and makeup bag were gone. Oh, and he found her $40,000 diamond wedding ring left behind on his desk.
"She just left to cool off," he basically told everyone.
But her kids didn't buy it. Not for a second. If Dee was leaving, she’d have her phone. She’d have her cars—both her Hummer and her Escalade were still sitting in the driveway. For months, then years, the case sat in this weird limbo. No body. No crime scene. Just a lot of suspicion and a family that refused to shut up.
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The Turning Point in the 48 Hours Dee Warner Episode
The 48 hours dee warner episode really digs into how the family took matters into their own hands when the local investigation felt like it was dragging. They hired Billy Little, a private investigator who specializes in "no body" cases. Little didn't just look for clues; he put up a billboard. It basically trolled Dale, asking the public for help and keeping the pressure high.
It worked. Or at least, it kept the fire hot enough for the Michigan State Police to take over the case from the local sheriff in 2022.
The Arrest Before the Discovery
Usually, in these cases, you find a body and then you make an arrest. The state police did the opposite. In November 2023, they charged Dale Warner with open murder and tampering with evidence.
They didn't have her remains yet.
They had "circumstantial" evidence—the lack of life activity, the weirdness with the ring, the conflicting timelines. Dale pleaded not guilty. He maintained his innocence from behind bars, with his lawyers arguing that there was zero proof a crime had even happened.
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The Truth Hidden in a Fertilizer Tank
The most chilling part of the story—and what the 48 hours dee warner episode eventually had to update with a "post-mortem" segment—happened in August 2024.
For three years, everyone was looking at the farm, but they weren't looking in the equipment. Specifically, an anhydrous ammonia tank. These are big, industrial-looking things used for fertilizer.
Dee’s brother, Gregg Hardy, had a "gut feeling" about a specific tank he saw Dale painting shortly after Dee vanished. Why would a guy who just lost his wife be out there painting a rusty tank in a barn?
When investigators finally cut into that tank on a property owned by Dale, they found her. She had been there the whole time. Hidden in plain sight.
The findings were grim:
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- The body was well-preserved due to the environment of the tank.
- An X-ray initially confirmed a human silhouette.
- Dental records proved it was Dee.
- The cause of death? Strangulation and blunt-force trauma.
Where the Case Stands Right Now (January 2026)
If you’re looking for the ending to this saga, we are right in the thick of it. As of mid-January 2026, Dale Warner is sitting in the Lenawee County Jail. His trial is officially set to begin on January 27, 2026.
This isn't just a simple trial, though. It’s a circus. There are 68 potential witnesses on the list. We’re talking about FBI agents, state troopers, and Dee’s own family members who will have to look Dale in the eye and testify.
There was even a wild twist involving a former detective, Kevin Greca, who was arrested by U.S. Marshals recently because he allegedly tried to skip town to avoid testifying. Then there’s the son—Dale’s son from a previous marriage—who was initially charged with accessory to murder, though those charges were dropped because a witness went MIA.
Honestly, the legal maneuvering is as complex as the search for the body was. Dale’s defense is likely to lean hard on the fact that other people were on the property that night. But the prosecution has a literal "smoking gun" now—a body found in a sealed tank on his land that he was seen painting.
Practical Insights from the Warner Case
This case changed how "no body" homicides are handled in Michigan. It’s a reminder that digital footprints (or the lack thereof) are often more telling than physical evidence in the early stages of a disappearance.
If you are following the trial or interested in the legal precedents:
- Watch the Trial Dates: The proceedings starting January 27 will likely last several weeks. Local Michigan outlets like WDIV and WTOL are providing daily updates.
- Understand "Open Murder": In Michigan, this charge allows a jury to decide between first-degree (premeditated) and second-degree murder based on the evidence presented at trial.
- The Civil Aspect: Even before the body was found, the family filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit. This is a common tactic to freeze assets and gain access to discovery documents that the police might be holding close to the chest.
The 48 hours dee warner episode served as a catalyst for national attention, but the real "justice" is only just starting to play out in a courtroom. After 1,200+ days of wondering where she was, the family finally has her back. Now they just want a conviction.