Dee Ann Warner: Declaration of Death Hearing Continues

Photo courtesy of Parker Hardy.

Yesterday, Lenawee County Probate Court continued proceedings to determine to whether or not missing Tecumseh, Michigan woman, Dee Ann Warner, should be declared dead. The petition was filed by Dee’s adult children last fall.

Although Dale and his attorney, Lawrence Leib, formally withdrew their objection last month, Mr. Leib said yesterday, “Mr. Warner loves his wife very much and hopes she is still alive.”

Dee was reported missing April 25, 2021, the day after she planned to tell Dale she wanted a divorce and to sell their businesses.

Dee’s family believes Dale is responsible for Dee’s disappearance.

Amy Alexander testified she and Dee, “got along like sisters.” The day before Dee disappeared, Dee told Amy she was going to talk with Dale that night. “She said she was hyperventilating and throwing up,” Amy said. That evening, Amy picked up Dale and Dee’s nine-year-old daughter to shield her from a contentious scene. Amy said, “Her [Dee’s] eyes just looked hurt. She just looked sad.”

Amy stated Dale and Dee often fought and described a scene where she saw Dee at a graduation party. It was a hot day, yet Dee wore long sleeves. Dee told Amy she had bruises. Amy also mentioned an incident where Dale allegedly pushed Dee into a dresser.

When asked if she had any doubt that Dee was murdered, Amy said, “No.”

Melissa Brueckner met Dee in 2015 when their kids went to the same daycare. Melissa testified Dee had talked of leaving Dale for a long time.

After Dee’s disappearance, Melissa helped Dale with getting his daughter back and forth to gymnastics until January 2022 when she became very uncomfortable. Melissa said, “If he could do this once, why couldn’t he do it again? I’m a single parent.”

Melissa was adamant Dee would have never willingly left her children.

Dee made weekly appointments with Stacey Brodie, her massage therapist and friend, due to chronic head, neck, and shoulder pain. Stacey testified, “Her [Dee’s] whole heart and soul revolved around her family, her kids, and her grandkids.” Unlike most of Stacey’s clients, Stacey said, “Her [Dee’s] phone or watch was always on during the massage in case one of the kids needed her.”

Stacey testified Dee came in crying the week before she disappeared. “It was rough. Their whole entire existence together was rough. They fought all the time,” Stacey said.

Several times, Stacey noticed bruises on Dee. “Lots and lots of bruises,” Stacey said, noting one bruise on Dee’s hip was the size of an orange. When asked, Dee told her Dale had shoved her into a dresser.

Deputy Sheriff Austin Hall of Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office met with Dee’s adult children to make a missing person report on April 25, 2021, and then questioned Dale. Dale told him Dee had recently had Covid and her, “brain wasn’t acting on all cylinders.” Dale said Dee had been having suicidal thoughts the night before. Dale claimed Dee had been asleep on the couch when he left for work between 6 and 7 AM. No vehicles were missing, but Dale noticed her curling iron and to-go bag were gone.

Deputy Hall said, “I felt like I didn’t have all of the facts given to me.”

When asked whether he believed Dee was dead, Deputy Hall said, “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

Nicole Anderson, Michigan State Police Intelligence Analyst, has access to state and nationwide databases used to find missing people including facial recognition. After working on Dee’s case over 40 hours, she testified, “I haven’t seen any proof of life or life activity.”

Charles Bullock, the Successor Conservator, who job it is to protect Dee’s assets, testified, “I don’t think she [Dee] just walked away from her business.” He also said, “I believe she is deceased.”

In the fall of 2021, Dr. Roy Fenoff, Forensic Document Examiner and Handwriting Expert, examined a Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) Dale used to file an allegedly fraudulent SBA loan and make other business transactions after Dee’s disappearance. The DPA was dated 10/20/14 and was allegedly signed by Dee, witnessed, and notarized. Dr. Fenway testified, “Dee Ann Warner did not sign the document.” After analyzing nuances like speed and rhythm, Dr. Fenoff concluded, “All the signatures on this document may have been produced by one author.”

With more witnesses waiting to testify, the proceedings will resume August 16, 2023, at 9 AM.

In an interview this morning, Gregg Hardy, Dee’s brother, said, “It was apparent that we were putting up enough evidence and the only obstacle we really had was time.”

When asked about Dale and Dee’s abusive relationship, Gregg said, “Those testimonies were very painful for me and the family to listen to, but they were also very telling. Over the last two years, I’ve realized that there was a point where my sister was reaching out for help.”

As to Dr. Fenoff’s testimony, Gregg said, “I delivered that same evidence to the prosecutor in Lenawee County, to the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office, and to the Michigan State police almost two years ago. I begged, begged Sheriff Brevier on October 11, 2021, to use that evidence to arrest Dale Warner. Now, the evidence is finally presented in a courtroom. The DPA was not only used for the SBA loan, it’s been used to try to close a bank account. It was used to try to destroy the fact of the family wanting the conservatorship.”

Gregg is grateful for all the people rallying for justice. “Sometimes when I see Justice for Dee signs still remaining after all this time, I pull in the driveway and knock on the door to thank the people for continuing their support. It gives me new faith in humanity that people really do care for others.”

For background and updates on the Dee Ann Warner case you can start here. For all the latest updates, join the Justice for Dee Facebook page.