Dee Warner, 52, disappeared on April 25, 2021, from her residence on Munger Road in Tipton, located approximately 65 miles southwest of Detroit and 32 miles south of Ann Arbor.
Michigan State Police announced on Sunday that human remains were discovered on a property in Lenawee County during the execution of a search warrant. The property belongs to Dale Warner, 56, according to authorities.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 20.
“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,” MSP said in the statement.
“The family of Dee Warner has been contacted and advised of the findings. This continues to be an ongoing investigation,” the statement said.
The family members of the missing woman expressed their belief that the remains, discovered in a tank inside a dilapidated barn on one of Dale’s properties, belong to Dee.
According to a family spokesperson who spoke to WTVG, the remains were discovered in a tank typically used for anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer commonly used in farming.
Dale has consistently maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to both charges. According to a report by WXYZ, in June 2024, a judge determined that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial regarding the murder of his wife.
The individual in question is currently being detained on a bond amounting to $15 million.
His attorneys have vigorously asserted his innocence in the disappearance of his wife, pointing out that her body has never been located. The attorneys have yet to respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment regarding the discovery of remains.