Can Michigan Authorities Secure a Murder Conviction in Dee Warner's Case Without a Body?

On April 25, 2021, Rikkell Bock arrived at her childhood home in Lenawee County, Michigan, expecting to share breakfast with her mother, Dee Warner. Instead, she found an unsettling silence.

“Sundays were our thing,” Rikkell recalled, her voice tinged with concern. “When she didn’t answer her phone, I knew something was off.”

Dee’s Hummer was parked nearby, but her Cadillac remained in the garage. “All her cars were there,” Rikkell confirmed, anxiety creeping into her tone.

Rikkell noticed the fertilizer sprayer was missing, and her stepfather, Dale Warner, was out working. “That was normal for him,” she said, but the absence of Dee felt anything but ordinary.

Concern escalated when Rikkell visited Dee’s brother and sister-in-law, Gregg and Shelley Hardy. “We can’t find her,” they said, bewildered. “Her car is here, but she’s gone.”

Gregg immediately called Dee’s phone. “If she was anywhere, she would answer,” he insisted. But there was only silence.

Rikkell and Shelley searched Dee’s home for clues. “There were tissues everywhere,” Shelley noted, while Rikkell pointed out that Dee’s makeup bag and curling iron were missing. “It felt wrong,” she said.

As the day wore on, fear settled in. “I felt it in my stomach,” Rikkell admitted. “It was nothing but fear.”

Dee’s other son, Zack Bock, joined the search. “I checked the security cameras,” he said, but found no sign of his mother. “I never saw her walk to the office or drive away.”

Adding to the mystery, their 9-year-old sister Lena had stayed with cousins the night before. “Lena went everywhere with Mom,” Rikkell emphasized. “She would never leave her behind.”

By Sunday evening, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office dispatched Deputy Austin Hall to speak with Dale. “She was sleeping on the couch,” Dale told the deputy, seemingly unconcerned.

“I figured she was still sleeping,” he added, explaining that he had last seen Dee around 6 a.m. Dale claimed that Dee had left intentionally, citing missing items like her hair curler and makeup bag as signs of her departure.

However, tensions were high in their marriage. Dale mentioned an argument Dee had with employees the night before. “She was really upset,” he said. “Tensions are high all the time.”

Dee’s family began to suspect foul play as days turned into weeks without any sign of her. “Without a body, it’s hard to prove anything,” they lamented.

In February 2022, Shelley watched an episode of "48 Hours" featuring investigator Billy Little. His words struck a chord: “You don’t get away with murder because you’re good at disposing of bodies.” Shelley shared this insight with Gregg, who immediately sought Little’s help.

Billy Little arrived in Lenawee County in spring 2022, determined to uncover the truth. He learned about Dee’s troubled marriage and frequent arguments over money. “This was not a happy marriage,” he concluded.

Dee’s children revealed that she had been contemplating divorce but feared losing custody of Lena. The day before her disappearance, they sensed a shift in Dee’s demeanor—she seemed calm yet resolute.

Gregg Hardy filed a civil suit to protect Dee’s interests and began to suspect Dale of financial misconduct after her disappearance. “Call it a gut feeling,” he said.

As time passed, suspicions grew against Dale. He provided inconsistent accounts of the events surrounding Dee’s disappearance. “He told us different stories,” Rikkell noted.

In November 2023, after two and a half years of searching for answers, Dale Warner was arrested for murder. The news came as a shock to Dee’s family as they prepared for a funeral.

“I fell to my knees at the funeral home,” Stephanie Voelkle recalled. “I was just so happy.”

Dale pleaded not guilty, and the family braced for a lengthy legal battle ahead.

The preliminary hearing began on May 1, 2024. Judge Anna Frushour would determine if there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Despite the absence of a body, prosecutors argued that there was no evidence Dee was alive after April 24, 2021. They presented testimonies from friends and family who hadn’t heard from her since that date.

Detective Daniel Drewyor testified about extensive searches conducted by law enforcement over the years. “We searched numerous vehicles and executed search warrants for healthcare records and phone records,” he stated.

Rikkell noted tire tracks near the Warner home on the day of Dee’s disappearance. Prosecutors suggested these tracks could indicate Dale used equipment to dispose of Dee’s body.

The defense countered that there was no physical evidence linking Dale to Dee’s disappearance. They emphasized his cooperation with law enforcement and his consistent denials of wrongdoing.

As the judge deliberated, Dee’s family remained hopeful yet anxious about the outcome. On June 7, 2024, Judge Frushour ruled that there was probable cause to believe Dee had died by homicide at the hands of Dale Warner.

“This is reality,” Rikkell said after the ruling. “They think there’s enough evidence that he killed our mom to go to trial.”

In August 2024, authorities discovered a large metal tank on property owned by Dale and Dee Warner. Inside was a body later confirmed to be Dee Warner's.

“It took just days to confirm it was my mom,” Rikkell said tearfully. Her death was ruled a homicide.

As preparations for trial began, Dale maintained his innocence through his attorney. The family found solace in finally having closure after years of uncertainty.

“Finding my mom gave us peace,” Rikkell reflected. “She didn’t leave us willingly.”

The trial is set to begin soon as the family seeks justice for Dee Warner.