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North Carolina Man Allegedly Confesses to Killing His 4 Children Over Course of Several Months
North Carolina man Wellington Delano Dickens III allegedly confessed to killing four of his children, and authorities believe he spread the murders out over a period of several months.
Dickens, 38, was charged with four counts of murder on October 28, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY. He is currently being held without bond.
According to the sheriff’s office, Dickens called 911 and admitted to killing his children on the night of October 27.
Following the call, deputies responded to a home in rural Zebulon, North Carolina. Once they approached Dickens, he told them his 3-year-old son was inside the house and four of his other children were dead inside the trunk of a vehicle in his garage, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
The statement shared that deputies found the 3-year-old boy alive and unharmed in the home. Meanwhile, investigators believe Dickens killed three of his biological children — who were aged 6, 9, and 10 — and his 18-year-old stepchild.
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In the arrest warrants filed against Dickens, it was indicated that the four children were killed on May 1. However, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said during a news conference on October 29 that investigators now believe the children were killed in separate incidents that took place over several months.
Upon their arrival to the home, Sheriff’s Captain Don Pate said authorities smelled an odor that was “obvious of decay.” After noting that the home was not well-kept, Pate said there was evidence that someone tried to clean up the crime scene.
Bizzell added that a motive has not yet been confirmed. “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 during the press conference.
While recalling the phone call Dickens made to authorities, Bizzell said the suspect “pretty much called and said, ‘I’m here with my little 3-year-old son. I killed my four children. Their bodies were in the trunk of the car. I’ll be glad to go outside and wait for deputies. I’m not armed. I’m just ready to do what’s right.’”
Bizzell also said that the investigation is still ongoing and it’s possible that Dickens will be hit with more charges regarding the case.
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After investigators obtained a search warrant, they determined that Leah Dickens, 6, was the first child to be killed in May 2025. Bizzell explained that Zoe Dickens, 9, died in August 2025, while it’s believed that Wellington Dickens, 10, died in late August or early September 2025. Bizzell said that Sean Brasfield, 18, was killed in September.
Dickens already appeared in court on October 28 and October 29, according to USA Today. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 13.
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