Father Charged with Four Counts of Murder

A father in North Carolina has been charged with murdering his four children after he reportedly called 911 to confess. Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, was arrested on Tuesday at his home in Zebulon, which is about 20 miles northeast of Raleigh.

In a chilling call to 911, Dickens allegedly admitted, “There’s a lot to explain, but in short, it’s all my fault. This is my fault. This is wrong.”

He faces four counts of murder, and if convicted, could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or face the death penalty. Currently, Dickens is being held without bail in the Johnston County Jail.

The call to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office came shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday. Dickens told the operator he had “murdered children.” He later clarified that he hadn’t “cut” or “shot” anyone, but acknowledged hitting and “disciplining” his son-in-law excessively. Dickens expressed feelings of being caught in a “vicious cycle” that kept escalating.

He referred to himself as a “coward” and revealed that he had been drinking alcohol and using marijuana. Despite everything, he stated that he was “trying to do the right thing” and sought to turn himself in to law enforcement. When police arrived, he allegedly indicated that his three-year-old son was alive in the residence and that his other four children were deceased in the trunk of a car parked in the garage.

Officers discovered what appeared to be multiple bodies in the trunk. Investigators found that the remains had likely been there for some time. Reports indicate that Dickens is accused of killing his biological children, aged 6, 9, and 10, as well as his 18-year-old stepson.

The sheriff’s office has yet to disclose the manner of death or any possible motives. During a press conference, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell suggested that the killings may have occurred several months ago, estimating that his children, Leah, Zoe, Wellington, and stepson Sean were killed between May and September.

Upon entering the home, officers noted a strong odor of decomposition and evidence suggesting an attempt to clean up a crime scene. Following these tragic events, social services took the surviving three-year-old for a medical evaluation, and he is reported to be safe.

In a related context, Dickens’ wife, 37-year-old Stephanie Rae Jones, passed away at home in April 2024. She was three months pregnant at the time of her death. Authorities ruled her death a result of natural causes connected to a miscarriage, despite her having experienced severe bleeding the night before her passing.

Local neighbors shared mixed perspectives, with one mentioning that she never saw children playing outside at Dickens’ home. Others noted that after his wife’s death, Dickens became increasingly reclusive. Reports from family hint at a military background, with Dickens’ great-uncle sharing that he had served in Iraq and faced ongoing struggles since returning.

As for Dickens himself, a probable cause hearing is scheduled for November 13, whereas local law enforcement has not publicly responded to requests for comments about the case.