(LENAWEE COUNTY) - Dale Warner, the man accused of killing his wife, Dee Warner, has rejected a plea deal as jury selection began this week in Lenawee County Circuit Court.
According to reporting from WTOL TV, prosecutors confirmed they offered Warner a deal to plead guilty to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence after consulting with Dee Warner's family. Warner, 57, declined the offer, clearing the way for a full trial.
Warner is charged with open murder and tampering with evidence. He has pleaded not guilty.
Jury selection began Tuesday and is expected to take up to two weeks, with hundreds of potential jurors to be questioned. On the first day, 28 prospective jurors were examined. Sixteen were dismissed, including ten who said they already believed Warner was guilty.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned jurors about their exposure to media coverage and involvement in the "Justice for Dee" Facebook group, which the defense argued could bias potential jurors. At least three prospective jurors acknowledged being members of the group.
Opening statements are scheduled for Feb. 10 once a jury is seated.
Dee Warner was reported missing in April 2021 from the couple's Franklin Township home. Her disappearance drew national attention. Warner was arrested in November 2023, despite her remains not being found at the time. A judge formally declared Dee Warner dead in March 2024.
Investigators later located her remains in August 2024 inside a sealed fertilizer tank on property owned by Dale Warner. Authorities determined her death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and strangulation.