North Carolina Man Charged with Murder of Four Children

Wed Oct 29 2025 10:21:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Wellington Delano Dickens III faces multiple murder charges after disturbing details emerged about the deaths of his children, discovered in his garage.

Wellington Delano Dickens III, a resident of Zebulon, North Carolina, has been charged with four counts of murder concerning the deaths of his three biological children and one stepchild. Authorities found human remains in his garage following a 911 call made by Dickens himself, who confessed to the killings. Investigations suggest the children were murdered in early May, leading to a shockwave in the tight-knit community.

ZEBULON, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man was charged Tuesday with four counts of murder after telling authorities that he had killed his children and after sheriff’s deputies found human remains in the trunk of a vehicle in his home’s garage.

Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, is now held without bond in Johnston County Jail, as confirmed by the county’s sheriff’s office and court records.

Dickens initially faced one murder charge in connection to one of his children, with three additional counts filed later in the day.

On Monday evening, Dickens called 911, confessing to the operator about the killings. Sheriff’s deputies responded and found Dickens’ 3-year-old son unharmed inside the residence, located on the edge of Zebulon, about 25 miles east of Raleigh.

Upon further investigation, deputies discovered “multiple bodies” in the trunk of a vehicle in the garage, with authorities suggesting that the victims were killed on May 1.

According to the sheriff’s office, the victims are identified as Dickens’ biological children aged 6, 9, and 10, along with his 18-year-old stepchild. Arrest warrants confirm the identities of the victims aged 9, 10, and 18, while the fourth warrant does not specify a date of birth.

Records indicate Dickens appeared in court to face the initial murder charge on Tuesday afternoon, during which he was assigned legal representation.

Dickens' wife, Stephanie, passed away in April 2024, leaving behind five children living at their Zebulon residence. Her death occurred shortly after Dickens' father died in a car accident in Lee County, according to court documents.

A report from Dickens' great uncle, Charles Moore, reveals that Dickens is an Iraq War veteran. Moore noted that he hadn’t seen Dickens in about a year, although he seemed to be managing well.

The community is in shock as police activity continues at Dickens’ home, where neighbors expressed their concerns and sorrows. Residents noted seeing the children briefly, primarily during school commutes, but many were unaware of the tragic events unfolding behind closed doors.

Zebulon, known for its historic tobacco market and fast-developing suburbs in the Raleigh-Durham area, is reeling from this shocking revelation.