The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Zebulon area man with murder after they say he killed four of his children.
A Zebulon man is facing multiple charges after he confessed to killing four of his children, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, called 911 shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, according to a news release. When deputies arrived at his Springtooth Drive home, Dickens reportedly said his 3-year-old son was alive inside the house, while four of his other children were dead inside the trunk of a vehicle in the garage.
The 3-year-old was found alive and unharmed inside, while “multiple bodies” were found in the trunk as Dickens described, the release said. The remains appeared to have been in the trunk “for a long period of time,” according to the sheriff’s office.
“Through further investigation it is believed Mr. Dickens killed three of his biological children, ages 6, 9 and 10, and his 18-year-old stepchild,” the sheriff’s office said. “Due to the apparent time since death, positive identification of the decedents will be confirmed with the assistance of the State Medical Examiner’s Office.”
Dickens was arrested on a charge of murder in the death of one of his minor children, with additional charges expected soon, according to the sheriff’s office. He is being held without bail at the Johnston County jail.
Editor’s note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 12:01 PM.
Lexi Solomon
The News & Observer
Lexi Solomon joined The News & Observer in August 2024 as the emerging news reporter. She previously worked in Fayetteville at The Fayetteville Observer and CityView, reporting on crime, education and local government. She is a 2022 graduate of Virginia Tech with degrees in Russian and National Security & Foreign Affairs.
