Key points: Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after reporting four children dead in a car in his garage. A 3-year-old at the home was found alive. Dickens allegedly told investigators he buried a fifth child — an infant — behind the house; officials have not located the remains. Authorities say the deaths likely occurred between May and September, and the medical examiner is determining cause of death.
North Carolina Father Charged After Confessing to Deaths of Four Children; Says He Buried Infant Behind Home
Key points: Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after reporting four children dead in a car in his garage. A 3-year-old at the home was found alive. Dickens allegedly told investigators he buried a fifth child — an infant — behind the house; officials have not located the remains. Authorities say the deaths likely occurred between May and September, and the medical examiner is determining cause of death.
11:18 AM, 11/20/2025Society
Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after authorities say he called 911 on Oct. 27 to report that four of his children were dead and stored in a vehicle in his garage. Deputies who responded to the home near Zebulon found Dickens and a 3-year-old child who was alive and unharmed.
A search of the garage uncovered human remains inside the trunk of a car; investigators said the remains appeared to have been there for some time. Court records indicate Dickens later told investigators he had also buried a fifth child — an infant — in the woods behind the house.
In a 911 recording, a man who identified himself as Wellington Dickens said: "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."
Investigators now believe the deaths occurred over several months, beginning in May and continuing through September. Officials said the children's mother, identified as Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died in April 2024 from complications related to a miscarriage; her prior refusal of medical treatment was noted by investigators.
Neighbors described the family as reclusive and said the children were homeschooled. Authorities said the home had been visited previously following the mother's death, which was determined to be from natural causes at that time.
According to court documents, Dickens told investigators the infant’s health declined, that he wrapped the baby in plastic or paper and buried the child behind the home. Relatives reported the infant’s death was never formally reported, and investigators have not yet located the remains.
Officials have not released specific details about how the children died. The state medical examiner is examining the recovered remains to determine cause and time of death, and authorities say the search for the alleged fifth child will resume when weather and conditions permit.
Local officials said the case has deeply affected every responder connected to the investigation. At this stage, prosecutors have filed charges related to the four discovered deaths; further charges or updates may follow as the investigation continues.