ADRIAN, Mich. (WXYZ) — A jury has convicted Dale Warner of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the death of his wife, Dee Warner.
The verdict was Tuesday afternoon in a Lenawee County courtroom.
Watch the video reports below:
The deliberations started last week, but were previously put on hold due to one of the jurors having a medical issue. The deliberations resumed on Tuesday.
Dee Warner was last seen at her residence on Munger Road in Franklin Township in Lenawee County on the evening of April 24, 2021.
Watch the verdict being read:
Her body was found in a fertilizer tank in 2024 on Dale Warner's farming property. Prosecution says Dale Warner had the motive to want to murder Dee, after she expressed wanting a divorce, with him telling law enforcement that he did not want to go through with that again.
The defense has said there's not enough evidence that Warner is the one responsible for Dee's death.
It took the jury nine hours and over two days to reach their verdict following a five-week trial.
Previous report: Jury deliberations on hold in Dale Warner murder trial due to sick juror
After a yearslong fight for justice Dee Warner's brother, Greg Hardy, says the guilty verdict handed down by the jury was a long time coming. While he's still processing his emotions, he says it's a win for his sister.
“He is an atrocious piece of human trash, in my opinion,” Hardy said. “We can almost change this from justice for Dee to victory for Dee, right?”
Hardy says the public's support was crucial in the family's search for justice.
“The Justice for Dee group, all the community people were absolutely phenomenal. Without them, we wouldn't be here today,” Hardy said. “Whatever it was going to take, we were going to get there.”
Lenawee County Prosecutor Jacqueline Wyse says Michigan State Police taking over the case was a big part in reaching a guilty verdict.
“Their leadership gave us all the resources we needed to see this case to the end,” Wyse said.
Wyse says she thinks the jury got it right.
“The jury did the right thing and we think justice was served today,” she said.
Watch our previous report about jury deliberations below:
Meanwhile, attorneys representing Dale Warner explained they're not happy with the verdict.
“He's disappointed, but he'll continue to fight to try to prove he's not guilty of these crimes,” Dale Warner’s attorney Mary Chartier said.
Watch: Video of 2021 police interview with Dale Warner played in Dee Warner murder trial
Hardy says he knows his sister would be glad that justice was ultimately served.
“She would be very thrilled,” Hardy said.
Dale Warner is expected back in court on May 7, when he's scheduled to be sentenced.
