North Carolina Father Charged with Murder of His Four Children After Chilling 911 Confession
In a case that has horrified an entire community, a North Carolina father, Wellington Delano Dickens III, has been charged with the murders of his four children after allegedly confessing to the killings in a 911 call.
Deputies responding to Dickens’ home in Zebulon, about 20 miles from Raleigh, discovered the bodies of his children — Leah (6), Zoe (9), Wellington (10), and 18-year-old stepchild Sean Brassfield — inside the trunk of a car in the garage. Authorities said the children appeared to have been dead for some time, possibly since May 1.
A 3-year-old boy, Dickens’ youngest child, was found alive and unharmed inside the home.
Court documents revealed a series of family tragedies leading up to the murders. Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, had died suddenly in April 2024, leaving behind five children.
The family had also suffered the death of Dickens’ father the previous year. Relatives described the Iraq War veteran as a man who “had a problem ever since he came back,” hinting at possible struggles with mental health after his military service.
Neighbors expressed their grief and disbelief, describing Dickens as increasingly withdrawn following his wife’s passing. “My heart just breaks for the children — and for the 3-year-old that’s left, because he has no parents or siblings left,” said neighbor Debra Riley.
Another neighbor, Fran Majkowski, said the tragedy has shaken their quiet community: “I walk by that house almost every single day. You never expect something like this to happen so close to home.”
Dickens, 38, was arraigned on four counts of first-degree murder and remains in custody without bond. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.
This heartbreaking case is a devastating reminder of the fundamental rights of every child, the right to life, safety, and protection from violence.
