Father Arrested After Bodies Of Four Children Found; Authorities Say He Hosted Dates While Concealing Remains

Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, was arrested in Zebulon, North Carolina, on Oct. 28, 2025, and charged with four counts of first-degree murder after authorities say they discovered the bodies of four children in the trunk of his car. According to local law enforcement and arrest records reviewed by PEOPLE, Dickens is being held without bond as the investigation continues.

Arrest, Charges And Initial Statements

Police say Dickens called 911 and surrendered to investigators. Local reports from WBTV indicate he told officers he did not torture the children but had "over-punished" them. It remains unclear whether the children were ever officially reported missing prior to the discovery.

Discovery At The Home And Vehicle

Investigators located the remains of four children inside the trunk of Dickens' vehicle; authorities told outlets the bodies appeared to have been there "for a long period of time." Three victims were children between the ages of 5 and 10, and the fourth was an 18-year-old stepchild. While searching the residence, officers found a separate 3-year-old child alive and unharmed; that child has since been placed in protective custody.

Alleged Digital Evidence And Dating-App Messages

According to the search warrant reported by WBTV, police recovered two cell phones during the search. One device allegedly contained messages arranging meetings with men Dickens met through the dating app Grindr. Authorities say the messages suggest dates visited the home while the remains were concealed.

Alleged Accounts Of The Deaths

Prosecutors and local media outlets report Dickens provided investigators with accounts of each death. He allegedly said the first victim, a 5-year-old girl, was disciplined and later found dead when he checked on her. He reportedly said he taped the mouth of a 9-year-old girl after she commented about the first girl's death and later found her dead. Dickens allegedly told police he believed a 10-year-old boy and an 18-year-old stepchild died of malnutrition.

Alleged Confession About An Infant

Law enforcement also reported that Dickens confessed a one-month-old infant died in his care after a brief illness and that he buried the baby in an unmarked grave about four feet deep in nearby woods, according to ABC11.

The warrant reviewed by outlets noted Dickens' wife, identified as Stephanie Jones, died after a miscarriage and prior to the deaths of the children. PEOPLE and local outlets have contacted the Johnston County Sheriff's Office for comment; the investigation remains active.

If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential; multilingual services are available 24/7.