It was a spring morning in Lenawee County, Michigan, on Sunday, April 25, 2021, when Rikkell Bock drove the short distance from her own home to her childhood house. She was anxious for the weekly breakfast with her mother, Dee Warner. But when she arrived, a wave of unease washed over her; her mother was nowhere to be found. Rikkell, who described Dee as “a very bubbly outgoing person” who would glue her phone to her hand, grew increasingly concerned as the hours passed with no response to her texts or calls.
- Dee Warner went missing on April 25, 2021.
- Dale Warner initially claimed she left voluntarily.
- Family suspected Dale's involvement in her disappearance.
- Dee's body was later found in a fertilizer tank.
- Trial for Dale Warner is scheduled for 2025.
- Emotional impact on Dee's family profound and lasting.
Rikkell recalled their routine: “Sundays … we would … go up to my mom’s first thing.” But today was different. Dee, who had not only missed their breakfast but also failed to answer calls from concerned family members, vanished without a trace. Rikkell’s stepfather, Dale Warner, was working outside on the farm, but the absence of Dee’s bright spirit was palpable.
“I texted her and she didn’t answer … so I figured, well, she’s still sleeping,” Dale told authorities, emphasizing his belief that Dee had simply left on her own, something he claimed was not unusual after a disagreement. Family members were shocked by this nonchalance. Rikkell and her aunt Shelley Hardy ventured out to search for Dee, only to return with their worries deepening.
The situation escalated as Rikkell, feeling the knot of fear tighten in her stomach, described frantically searching for clues in her mother’s home. “Her make-up bag was gone,” Rikkell mentioned, alongside the discovery of her mother’s curling iron and some blankets left strewn on the couch. It felt wrong. Dee’s car was parked just outside, leading Rikkell to question how she could have vanished without a trace.
As investigations began, authorities focused on Dale. Over the following week, their interviews uncovered a chaotic relationship punctuated by business pressures and emotional strain. Dee had been managing several businesses, including a trucking operation, which, according to family and friends, came with significant stress. “She always referred to it as her trucking business,” said her son, Zack Bock, who noted that his mother struggled for respect in a male-dominated industry.
But beneath the façade of a busy farm life lay cracks in their marriage. Dale, during his conversations with police, explained that just the night before Dee’s disappearance, they had an argument over a disgruntled employee and financial stressors. The situation was compounded by allegations of Dee’s emotional turmoil and potential plans for divorce that she had confided in her family. “I know that she had a hard time getting respect from some of the farmers because she was a woman,” Rikkell added, hinting at the pressures Dee faced as a woman in business.
As the investigation stalled, family members grew suspicious of Dale. They noticed discrepancies in his recounting of the events surrounding Dee’s last known whereabouts, especially related to their argument. “If he murdered his wife, where on earth is Ms. Warner?” Dale’s defense attorney would later suggest that the absence of evidence rendered the case against him weak. Yet, Dale maintained his innocence, allowing police to search his property without hesitation, often portraying a calm demeanor as the days turned into weeks without Dee.
Months passed with no leads, leaving Dee’s family in emotional turmoil. Their instincts pushed them to confront Dale directly, suspecting he was involved in Dee’s disappearance, prompting community efforts to raise awareness. They launched a billboard campaign that read, “Help Dale Find Dee,” a statement steeped in controversy that indicated the family’s deep-seated frustration over the investigation’s progress.
Then came a breakthrough. In August 2024, more than three years since Dee’s disappearance, authorities uncovered a key piece of evidence: a large metal fertilizer tank belonging to Dale. Scans revealed a body, leading to the unfortunate confirmation that it was Dee Warner. Authorities later ruled her death a homicide—a grim conclusion that left her loved ones in shock but with a troubling sense of resolution.
“She didn’t leave us willingly,” Rikkell insisted, a sentiment echoed by her family. The discovery reignited the investigation, shifting the focus back to Dale. Between the lack of surveillance footage and the circumstantial evidence from prior interviews, prosecutors believed they now had enough to build a strong case. A preliminary hearing concluded with the judge finding probable cause that Dale was responsible for Dee’s death.
As the family prepared for the impending trial, they grappled with the complexities of grief and anger. They transformed their hurt into determination, advocating for justice on behalf of Dee, a mother, a businesswoman, and a lost sister.
The trial against Dale Warner is set to begin in September 2025, leaving many unanswered questions about the truth of what transpired in the days leading up to Dee’s disappearance, but one thing remains clear: the fight for justice is far from over. Dee’s family continues to seek answers, hoping for a resolution that honors her memory.
