Overview
- Prosecutors rested Tuesday morning, the defense called three witnesses and then rested, and closing arguments are scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday before the case goes to the jury.
- Defense witnesses included Dale Warner’s ex-wife, a trucking company manager, and Dee’s brother, Gregg Hardy, who described extensive search efforts after Dee vanished.
- Hardy testified he organized large-scale searches, contacted more than 100 people, publicized the case, and offered a $50,000 reward when Dale declined to do so.
- The defense played a prior recording in which Hardy pointed investigators to a specific tank later identified in court as Tank No. 8.
- A lead detective testified that Dale told investigators he believed Dee had fled to Florida or taken a cheap boat ride to Mexico or Jamaica, claims later contradicted by the discovery of her remains on his property in August 2024.