ADRIAN, Mich. (WXYZ) — The trial for Dale Warner, the man charged with murdering his wife Dee in Lenawee County, is now in the hands of the jury.
Closing arguments finished Thursday afternoon and the jury began deliberating shortly after.
Jurors were sent home before 5 p.m. Thursday after requesting to see a lengthy list of exhibits. Attorneys will work on that and the jury is set to return at 9 a.m. Friday.
Inside Lenawee County District Court Thursday during closing arguments, prosecutors laid out the reasoning they believe Dale Warner had motive to kill his wife: control, marital problems and his longing to not get another divorce.
Watch our video reports of deliberations underway:
Dee Warner was last seen at her residence on Munger Road in Franklin Township in Lenawee County on the evening of April 24, 2021. Her remains were found inside a sealed ammonia fertilizer tank on Dale Warner’s farm property last year.
An autopsy revealed she died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
“She was wrapped in a tarp wearing her pajamas, she had duct tape over mouth and nose, because if you didn’t kill her by strangling her and beating her, you were gonna make sure by covering her mouth and nose," prosecuting attorney Jacqueline Wyse said.
The defense argued although the entire situation is heartbreaking and there is surveillance video of Dale Warner driving around his property around the time of Dee's disappearance, there is no concrete evidence that the reason he was so active was to hide a body.
“While the government shows you videos oh him doing his chores, they’re not showing what he actually did. Assumptions are not evidence," defense attorney Mary Chartier said.
Watch our previous report when the prosecution and defense rested:
The defense noted Dale Warner’s cooperation with police, consenting to searches of his home and property and the fact there was no blood evidence found anywhere inside the family home.
The weeks-long trial began on Febr. 12.
The FBI, Michigan DNR, Michigan State Police and other agencies assisted the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office in searching for Dee Warner once her family declared her missing. She reportedly had no contact with her family and friends on the phone or on Facebook since April 25, 2021.
In November 2023, Michigan State Police arrested Dale Warner in connection with her disappearance, and he was charged a day later with murder.
On Aug. 18, 2024, human remains were found during a search of property belonging to Dale Warner. Three days later, those human remains were identified as Dee Warner.
Dale Warner is facing an open murder charge and tampering with evidence. If found guilty, he could face life behind bars.
