Help Dale Find Dee

Episode of 20/20 · October 24, 2026 · 1 h 28 min

20/20 recounts the 2021 disappearance of Michigan businesswoman Dee Warner, her family's campaign against husband Dale, the discovery of her body in a fertilizer tank, and his conviction.

Summary

This 20/20 episode examined the case of Dee Warner, a 52-year-old businesswoman from Tipton in Lenawee County, Michigan, who vanished from the farm she shared with her husband Dale in April 2021. Her daughter Raquel David described finding the house empty on a Sunday morning, with both of Dee's vehicles on the property. Former deputy Austin Hall recounted Dale telling him, on body camera, that Dee often left after arguments. Dale also told police she had a secret phone and had left her wedding ring on his desk.

Dee's family, led by her brother Greg Hardy, came to suspect Dale. They organized searches, a Facebook group with 25,000 members, and a billboard reading "Help Dale Find Dee." They also hired private investigator Billy Little, who concluded that trucking dispatcher Todd Nehrig was not involved. Relatives and friends described a volatile marriage marked by money disputes, an alleged push, and a tracking device on Dee's car. They also said Dee planned to tell Dale she wanted to split up the businesses.

After public pressure, the Michigan State Police took over the case. A detective confronted Dale with phone activity that took place before Dee was reported missing, and with front-end loader tracks near the back door. Dale was charged in November 2023 in what began as a no-body homicide case. Acting on Hardy's memory of Dale repainting an anhydrous ammonia tank, investigators x-rayed a freshly welded tank and found Dee's body inside.

At the February 2026 trial, prosecutors relied on surveillance video showing Dale gathering welding equipment. Defense attorney Mary Chartier argued that the evidence was circumstantial. The jury convicted Dale of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, and he was sentenced to up to 70 years. The episode noted that Raquel David had filed a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit and that Dale planned to appeal.

Chapters

0:35
Introduction
A montage introduced the search for missing Lenawee County businesswoman Dee Warner.
2:04
The Sunday Dee Vanished
Raquel David and relatives described finding Dee's home empty, reviewing the farm's cameras, and calling 911.
9:01
First Police Response
Deputy Austin Hall recounted meeting Dale, who said Dee often left after arguments and had a secret phone, and who produced her wedding ring.
17:28
Early Investigation and Theories
Detectives searched the house, explored affair rumors and a COVID-related personality change, and excluded a former acquaintance.
32:16
Todd Nehrig and Dale's Refusal
Attention turned to dispatcher Todd Nehrig's 3 a.m. visit, and Dale withdrew consent for a search, prompting a warrant.
35:17
Family Searches and Private Investigator
Greg Hardy organized searches, the family hired Billy Little, and Nehrig was ruled out after a secretly recorded conversation.
47:17
A Troubled Marriage
Family and friends described money fights, an alleged assault, a tracking device, and Dee's plan to split up the businesses.
51:02
Billboard Campaign and Pressure on the Sheriff
The family put up the Help Dale Find Dee billboard and pushed for the Michigan State Police to take over.
57:43
State Police Interview
A detective confronted Dale with phone activity from before Dee was missing and with front-end loader tracks near the back door.
1:02:41
Underground Searches and Arrest
Large-scale digs found nothing, but Dale was arrested and bound over for trial in a no-body homicide case.
1:10:21
The Tank Discovery
Following Greg Hardy's tip, investigators x-rayed a repainted anhydrous tank and found Dee's body inside.
1:17:21
The Trial
Prosecutors presented surveillance video and a theory involving a safe and welding gear, while the defense stressed the lack of direct evidence.
1:24:22
Verdict and Sentencing
Dale was convicted of second-degree murder and tampering, family members gave impact statements, and he was sentenced to up to 70 years.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Austin Hall
Austin Hall reports that the ping showed Dee's phone was last on at 7:14 a.m. that Sunday, near the farm.
“The last time the device was on was this morning at 0714 hours, Eastern Time”
Listen from 10:51 · Murder of Dee Warner
Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy criticizes the authorities for a lack of urgency in the first months of the investigation.
“Time is your enemy, right? And what was frustrating to me is I saw no urgency from the authorities”
Listen from 41:20 · Lenawee County Sheriff's Office
Billy Little
Billy Little concludes that Todd Nehrig, who passed a polygraph, was not involved in the crime either directly or as an accessory.
“Todd willingly took a lie detector test which he passed. In my opinion, he was not directly involved in this either before or even an accessory after the fact”
Listen from 44:39 · Polygraph
Raquel David
Raquel David says Dale did nothing to help find her mother and never treated the search as urgent.
“I really don't think he did anything at all to find her. He did not show up to the searches on foot”
Listen from 45:53 · Murder of Dee Warner
Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy believes his sister did not leave voluntarily but planned to confront Dale that night.
“It is my opinion that he did not leave her home voluntarily, but rather she was planning on confronting Dale when he returned home around”
Listen from 46:35 · Murder of Dee Warner
Raquel David
Raquel David recalls her mother suggesting that Dale could kill her.
“She made a comment about it, you know, mentioning something that Dale could do something like that to her”
Listen from 47:55 · Domestic violence
Raquel David
Raquel David says her mother avoided divorcing Dale because she did not want to leave Raquel's younger sister with him.
“Her biggest thing was she never wanted to divorce Dale because she didn't want to leave my little sister with him”
Listen from 49:58 · Murder of Dee Warner
Billy Little
Billy Little says Dee planned a final conversation with Dale that night about leaving and dividing the businesses.
“Dee was going to have a final conversation with Dale about leaving, splitting up the businesses on that night”
Listen from 50:26 · Murder of Dee Warner
Raquel David
Raquel David says Dale feared losing everything, including the trucking company and the farm, if Dee divorced him.
“He was afraid if my mom divorced him, he would lose everything. the trucking company, the farm, everything”
Listen from 50:50 · Murder of Dee Warner
Linked moment · 53:33Skip to 53:33 using a listen link in the info box.
Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy describes the Help Dale Find Dee billboard as a psychological tactic meant to pressure Dale and prompt a tough police interview.
“It was a psychological play. We were hoping that by having this kind of impact on Dale Warner that at some point perhaps the authorities would literally give him a hard interview”
Listen from 53:33 · Justice for Dee campaign
Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy says he suggested using an x-ray machine at the Canadian border, normally used on trucks, to scan the suspect tank.
“there's an x-ray machine at the Canadian border. If you could get those guys to do that, they radiographed trucks there”
Listen from 1:13:24 · Anhydrous ammonia tank
Austin Hall
Austin Hall reflects that his body camera footage shows officers near the tank containing Dee's body early on, and regrets that they missed it.
“That was tough to see and know that we were right there and we might have been able to save that family from a lot more anguish”
Listen from 1:21:29 · Body camera footage

People

In the conversation

Deborah RobertsABC News correspondent and 20/20 co-anchor who conducted the episode's interviews
Raquel DavidDaughter of Dee Warner and a hair stylist who works in the medical industry; this label also carries a brief promotional clip at the start.
Greg HardyDee Warner's older brother, a sixth-generation farmer who organized searches and the billboard campaign.
Austin HallFormer deputy with the Lenawee County Sheriff's Office and the first responding officer.
ShellyClose family member or friend of Dee Warner who joined the search effort.
Parker HardyDee Warner's nephew, a farmer who installed the farm's security cameras.
Billy LittlePrivate investigator and attorney hired by Dee Warner's family.

Discussed

Kevin GrecaLenawee County Sheriff's Office detective who interviewed Dale Warner early in the investigation.
Larry LiebDale Warner's attorney during his state police interview.

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From the publisher

When a beloved mother and businesswoman vanishes, her family begins their own investigation and public campaign against the man they suspect is responsible. To get ad-free episodes, early access to new true crime podcasts, and exclusive bonus episodes, subscribe to 20/20 True Crime+ on Apple Podcasts. ⁠Click here⁠ to start your free trial today. Terms apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on October 26, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime