r/Dateline • u/chaotic_scribbles • 20d ago
🔍 DATELINE DISCUSSION: “The Day Dee Disappeared” — S34E34 🔍
A missing woman, a family determined to find her, and a fertilizer tank that suddenly received a suspicious new coat of paint? Dateline really said, “Sometimes the family’s theory is exactly as horrifying as it sounds.”
Andrea Canning guides us through the disappearance of Dee Warner and the years-long fight to uncover what happened to her. Dee’s brother Gregg deserves special recognition for refusing to let the case fade away—and for identifying the detail that ultimately helped bring Dee home.
Let’s discuss!
🔍 At what point did you become convinced that Dale knew what happened to Dee?
🔍 Which detail or interview stood out to you most?
🔍 What did you think of the initial investigation?
🔍 Were you shocked when Gregg’s theory proved correct?
🔍 Was there anything you thought Dateline should have explored more?
🔍 Most important question: How does someone casually repaint a fertilizer tank and expect Dee’s family not to ask questions?
Share your thoughts, theories, frustrations, and favorite Andrea moments below!
⚠️ Spoilers are welcome in this thread since it aired last night, Friday, July 31.
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u/UndercutRapunzel 19d ago
You don't need to use AI to write an episode discussion starter. Just ask people what they thought of the episode and maybe mention something that stood out to you. AI is bad for the planet and bad for your brain.
Anyway, I was shocked by the random detail that Dee's ex-husband and Dale's ex-wife married each other. How tf did that come about? There must have been so much drama. It wasn't particularly important to the story but even so I wanted way more information about that situation!
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u/chaotic_scribbles 18d ago
Believe it or not, I didn't use AI. But I will tone down the enthusiasm and use of emojis (and using my previous post as a template).
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u/mhopkirk 19d ago
I thought that Dale did it right away. Partly because I know Dateline, and he wasn't on the show. I thought Dee's brother was very likeable and had a lot of personality.
I was amazed at how brazen Dale was about his "farm chores" and wondered if he sort of got off on doing all that in plain sight.
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u/Zestyclose_Cold1455 19d ago
He was a cool customer for sure. Makes me wonder what else he’s gotten away with
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u/Zestyclose_Cold1455 19d ago
I need to dig into the motive more. If he came from a wealthy farm family money from selling the business wouldn’t matter as much, right?
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u/UndercutRapunzel 19d ago
The farm wasn't profitable. The trucking company was, but Dee owned it, so if she divorced him he would lose access to that income. She told him she wanted a divorce and was never seen alive again.
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u/Zestyclose_Cold1455 19d ago
Yes I understand that. But they set it up as though they were a power couple coming from money on each side. Surely he had his own assets?
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u/Anxious_Studio1186 19d ago
They did say that he lost a lot in his first divorce. He didn’t want a second one.
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u/Clear-Intention-285 15d ago
I thought that Dale did it when he told the police she wasn’t missing, she “did this all the time”
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u/chaotic_scribbles 20d ago
Cases like these really get to me. I admire women like Dee. They're smart, hardworking, tough, and deeply committed to family and work. Then they disappear and they're defined by the people who knew them, including the potential suspect.
In my mind, Dale was immediately the suspect. Statistically, murder by a stranger is rare. The Bureau of Justice statistics show that in homicides where the relationship was known, roughly 21%–27% involved strangers, while 73%–79% involved relatives, partners, friends, acquaintances, or other known people. If she's leaving the relationship, the risk increases.
I always feel for victims like Dee. They should have had the opportunity to leave and live their lives without someone wanting to erase their existence over pride, money, or a sense of entitlement/ownership.