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 being held without bond in Johnston County Jail, according to the county’s sheriff’s office and court records. Dickens called 911 on Monday evening, admitting to the killings. When deputies arrived, they found Dickens’ 3-year-old son unharmed inside the residence.
The deputies discovered what the release described as 'multiple bodies' in the trunk of a vehicle in the garage, stating that the remains had been there for a long time. Investigators believe the victims were killed on May 1.
The sheriff’s office detailed that Dickens is suspected of killing three biological children aged 6, 9, and 10, as well as his 18-year-old stepchild. The arrest warrants confirm the identities of the victims as 9, 10, and 18, while the fourth warrant does not specify the age of that victim.
Court records show Dickens appeared before a judge Tuesday afternoon regarding the initial murder charge and will be appointed an attorney. Dickens’ wife, Stephanie, passed away in April 2024, and he mentioned that five children lived in their Zebulon home. Her death came just over a year after Dickens’ father died following a car accident.
Neighbors were shocked to learn about the tragedy. They recalled seeing the children near their home, but had recently noticed their absence.
‘I noticed the kids haven’t been out playing for quite some time, but I hadn’t put two and two together until this morning,’ said neighbor Terry Fuller. ‘It’s pretty awful.’
This incident has cast a shadow over the tight-knit community of Zebulon, known for its transformation into a residential area near the Raleigh-Durham region.
}
