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 had been charged earlier Tuesday in the death of one of his children, a sheriff’s office news release said. Three more murder counts were filed later in the day, records show.
Dickens called 911 on Monday evening and admitted to the operator that he had killed the children, the sheriff’s statement indicated.
Johnston County deputies responded and found Dickens’ 3-year-old son unharmed inside the residence, located on the outskirts of Zebulon, about 25 miles east of Raleigh.
In the garage, deputies discovered what was described as 'multiple bodies' in the trunk of a vehicle, with authorities believing the victims were killed on May 1.
The sheriff’s office indicated Dickens killed three of his biological children, aged 6, 9, and 10, along with his 18-year-old stepchild. Arrest warrants confirm the identities of the victims as 9, 10, and 18 years old.
Court records show Dickens appeared before a judge Tuesday afternoon concerning the initial murder charge. He will be appointed legal representation, but a name was not immediately provided.
Dickens’ wife, Stephanie, died in April 2024, and Dickens stated that five children lived in their Zebulon home following her death. Her passing occurred shortly after Dickens’ father died in a car accident in Lee County, North Carolina.
Dickens’ great uncle disclosed to local media that Dickens was a veteran of the Iraq War. Investigators worked at the crime scene while neighbors expressed shock, mentioning they hadn't seen the children for some time. Zebulon, once known for its tobacco market, is evolving into a suburban community of the Raleigh-Durham area.
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 had been charged earlier Tuesday in the death of one of his children, a sheriff’s office news release said. Three more murder counts were filed later in the day, records show.
Dickens called 911 on Monday evening and admitted to the operator that he had killed the children, the sheriff’s statement indicated.
Johnston County deputies responded and found Dickens’ 3-year-old son unharmed inside the residence, located on the outskirts of Zebulon, about 25 miles east of Raleigh.
In the garage, deputies discovered what was described as 'multiple bodies' in the trunk of a vehicle, with authorities believing the victims were killed on May 1.
The sheriff’s office indicated Dickens killed three of his biological children, aged 6, 9, and 10, along with his 18-year-old stepchild. Arrest warrants confirm the identities of the victims as 9, 10, and 18 years old.
Court records show Dickens appeared before a judge Tuesday afternoon concerning the initial murder charge. He will be appointed legal representation, but a name was not immediately provided.
Dickens’ wife, Stephanie, died in April 2024, and Dickens stated that five children lived in their Zebulon home following her death. Her passing occurred shortly after Dickens’ father died in a car accident in Lee County, North Carolina.
Dickens’ great uncle disclosed to local media that Dickens was a veteran of the Iraq War. Investigators worked at the crime scene while neighbors expressed shock, mentioning they hadn't seen the children for some time. Zebulon, once known for its tobacco market, is evolving into a suburban community of the Raleigh-Durham area.
