A Father’s Unthinkable Acts: The Wellington Delano Dickens III Case
In a tragic case that has shaken the small community of Zebulon, North Carolina, 38-year-old Wellington Delano Dickens III now faces four counts of first-degree murder after allegedly confessing to killing four of his own children. The horrific events came to light on October 27 when Dickens himself called 911 shortly after 10 p.m., telling the dispatcher that four of his children were dead and their remains were stored in a car trunk inside his garage. When Johnston County deputies arrived at the residence, they found Dickens along with his 3-year-old son, who was fortunately alive and unharmed. Upon searching the garage, law enforcement discovered what appeared to be human remains in the vehicle’s trunk, with investigators noting the remains had likely been there for quite some time. The case has left the community and first responders deeply affected, with Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell stating, “This case has affected every deputy, every investigator and every first responder who went to that house. It’s something you don’t ever forget.”
The 911 call recording, obtained by local news station WRAL-TV, reveals disturbing details about Dickens’ confession. On the call, he identified himself and provided his home address before allegedly admitting to killing his children. “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,” Dickens reportedly told the dispatcher. Sheriff Bizzell later shared during a news conference that investigators believe the deaths occurred over several months, beginning in May and ending in September of this year. When questioned about a possible motive, the sheriff responded with visible emotion, “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.” The timeline of these tragic events follows another family loss – Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died in April 2024 from complications of a miscarriage, according to authorities.
The case became even more disturbing when court documents revealed that Dickens allegedly confessed to burying a fifth child in the woods behind his home. According to these documents obtained by NBC News, Dickens told investigators that his infant’s health had deteriorated before he wrapped the baby in plastic or paper and buried the child behind the house. Officials noted that this death was never reported to authorities, and family members informed investigators they hadn’t seen the baby since Dickens relocated. Despite search efforts, the infant’s remains have not yet been recovered. Court documents indicate that searches will resume when weather conditions improve in the area, as investigators continue working to piece together the full extent of this tragedy.
Neighbors described the Dickens family as extremely reclusive, noting that the children were homeschooled and rarely, if ever, seen outside their home. “The neighbors said they never saw them come outside, and they were homeschooled, so they were just confined to the house,” explained Sheriff’s Captain Don Pate. This isolation might have contributed to the circumstances that allowed these alleged crimes to remain hidden for months. Deputies had previously visited the home when Stephanie Dickens died earlier in the year, but her death was determined to be from natural causes after she reportedly refused medical treatment. This previous contact with authorities raises questions about whether warning signs might have been present but not recognized at the time.
The medical investigation continues as officials work to determine exactly how and when each child died. The state medical examiner’s office is examining the remains to establish causes of death, though authorities have not yet released specific details about how the children were killed. The methodical nature of the alleged crimes, spanning from May to September according to investigators, suggests a prolonged period of suffering within the household that went unnoticed by the outside world. The surviving 3-year-old child is presumably now in the care of social services or family members, though official statements regarding the child’s current placement have not been made public as authorities likely seek to protect the young survivor’s privacy during this traumatic time.
This case highlights troubling questions about how such extensive family violence could go undetected in a community. The combination of homeschooling, social isolation following the mother’s death, and the apparent absence of regular contact with extended family or neighbors created conditions where these children apparently had no access to outside help. Sheriff Bizzell’s emotional reaction reflects the profound impact this case has had on even experienced law enforcement personnel. As the investigation continues and legal proceedings against Wellington Delano Dickens III move forward, the community of Zebulon and Johnston County will undoubtedly grapple with both grief for the lost children and difficult questions about how such tragedy might be prevented in the future. For now, authorities continue their solemn work to recover all remains, determine the full circumstances of each death, and pursue justice for the children whose lives were cut short.
