A North Carolina man is facing four counts of first-degree murder after authorities say he admitted to killing multiple children and concealing their remains at his home near Zebulon, as reported [1] by the New York Post.
Court records show that 38-year-old Wellington Delano Dickens III allegedly confessed during a 911 call to killing four of his children over several months and hiding their bodies in the trunk of a car located inside his garage.
HOLY SHIT: Wellington Dickens, who’s been arrested 7 TIMES for crimes such as child abuse, was just arrested AGAIN for allegedly M*RDERING HIS OWN CHILDREN.
The bodies of four of his children, ages 6, 9, 10, and 18, were found in the trunk of a vehicle in the garage.
Why was… pic.twitter.com/OuJGxoWhUP [2]
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 28, 2025 [3]
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to Dickens’ residence just after 10 p.m. on Oct. 27.
According to the department, Dickens told a 911 dispatcher that four of his children were dead and that their remains were in a vehicle on the property. Deputies located Dickens at the home along with his 3-year-old son, who was found alive and unharmed.
During a search of the garage, authorities discovered what appeared to be human remains inside the trunk of a vehicle. Investigators said the condition of the remains indicated they had likely been there for some time.
WRAL-TV obtained audio of the 911 call in which a man identifying himself as Wellington Dickens gave his address and told the dispatcher he had killed his children.
During the call, he reportedly said, “It’s a lot to explain, but in a nutshell, it’s probably my fault. It’s bad. It started out as me over-disciplining – that’s it.”
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said during a late-October news conference that investigators believe the deaths occurred over several months, beginning in May and continuing through September.
Bizzell said the motive was still unclear. “But as the sheriff, as a father and as a grandfather, I can stand here and say there’s no reason for a father to murder his children,” he said.
Heartbroken over NC, Johnston County’s tragedy: Wellington Delano Dickens III confessed to murdering his four children—Leah (6), Zoe (9), Wellington (10), and stepson Sean (18)—and keeping their remains in his car trunk for months. He faces four counts of first-degree murder. A… pic.twitter.com/Dj3nL4XaoF [4]
— (@V_Lady2024) October 29, 2025 [5]
Authorities also noted that Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died in April 2024 from complications related to a miscarriage. Investigators believe the children were killed between May and September following her death.
Neighbors told investigators the family rarely went outside and said the children had been homeschooled.
Sheriff’s Capt. Don Pate said deputies had previously responded to the home when Stephanie Dickens died, but her death was ruled natural after she declined medical treatment.
Court documents obtained by NBC News indicate Dickens also allegedly confessed to burying a fifth child in the woods behind the home.
According to investigators, he claimed the infant’s health declined before he wrapped the child in plastic or paper and buried the remains behind the house.
Officials said the death was never reported, and relatives stated they had not seen the infant since Dickens moved. As of the latest update, the remains of the fifth child have not been located.
The investigation remains ongoing.