Investigators in Franklin Township, Michigan, have made a significant discovery during a search on property owned by a man whose wife vanished over three years ago and is presumed dead. Dee Warner was reported missing by her family in April 2021. Her husband, Dale John Warner, 56, was charged in November with open murder and evidence tampering in connection to her disappearance and has pleaded not guilty. Michigan State Police recently conducted a search on Dale Warner’s property in Lenawee County, where they uncovered human remains.

The authorities stated in a social media post, “The remains are currently in the process of being recovered and there will be a great deal of work and testing completed before positive identification is made. The family of Dee Warner has been contacted and advised of the findings. This continues to be an ongoing investigation.” According to family members who spoke with WTVG-TV and WTOL-TV, the remains were found on Friday inside a sealed, empty tank intended for anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer for crops.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday. Dee Warner, who was 52 years old when she was last seen on the morning of April 25, 2021, on a road in Franklin Township, has had no contact with her family or friends since then. Dale Warner is currently in custody at the Lenawee County Jail and is set to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on September 4.

His attorney, Mary Chartier, expressed confidence in her client’s innocence, stating, “We believe that a fair and objective review of the evidence — or more precisely the lack of evidence in this case — will show that Mr. Warner did not kill his wife,” when he was charged.