A father from North Carolina dialed 911 on October 27, 2025, admitting to the murder of his four children. The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office later found the children’s remains in the trunk of a car in his garage.

The suspect, 38-year-old Wellington Delano Dickens III, has been charged with four counts of murder. The victims, his three biological children and one stepchild, were identified as Leah Dickens, 6; Zoe Dickens, 9; Wellington Dickens IV, 10; and Sean Brasfield, 18. In the family’s Zebulon home, about 25 miles east of Raleigh, North Carolina, an unharmed 3-year-old boy was discovered.

According to Sheriff Steve Bizzell, who spoke at a news conference on October 29, investigators believed the murders took place over several months. The youngest victim, Leah, was killed in May 2025. Zoe’s death followed in August, Wellington IV in late August or early September, and Sean’s in September. The children’s remains had been in the car for a considerable period, officials said.

In the 911 call made public by the Sheriff’s Office, Dickens confessed to killing his children. “It’s a lot to explain, but in a nutshell, it’s probably my fault … I’m not even going … It’s my fault. It’s bad,” he stated during the call.

Dickens further explained that he lost control of the situation. He admitted to over-disciplining the children, sometimes physically, and depriving them of food. When questioned about the method of murder, Dickens denied using knives or firearms.

Dickens claimed divine influence led him to make the 911 call. He admitted to smoking and drinking champagne before the call and expressed remorse about the circumstances surrounding his surviving son.

The Sheriff stated that determining a motive is part of the ongoing investigation. Bizzell commented that as a sheriff, father, and grandfather, he could not understand the reasoning behind a father killing his children.

All the children in the household were homeschooled, contributing to their social isolation. The children were rarely seen outside by neighbors, and attempts by family members to visit the children in the months leading up to the discovery were unsuccessful.

The family’s tragedy extends beyond the children’s deaths. Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died at their home on April 21, 2024, while three months pregnant. Authorities attributed her death to complications from a miscarriage. Dickens stated she had severe bleeding the night before her death but refused medical help.

The family also had a history of refusing medical attention. In 2016, after leaving the hospital with their newborn daughter against medical advice, WakeMed reported the family to the North Carolina Division of Social Services. The baby had jaundice, a condition that can lead to brain damage if left untreated. Dickens refused to allow social workers to see the child during home visits. He was arrested and imprisoned until he complied with a court order that led his wife to bring their daughter to a clinic.

The biological father of Sean Brasfield, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed his shock over the deaths. He last saw his son around 2014, after losing contact when Sean’s mother began dating Dickens. Sean had cerebral palsy and was blind in one eye. His father described him as a wonderful kid and stressed that four innocent lives had been lost.

The family’s seclusion helped hide the deaths, according to Captain Don Pate. Extended family members were not allowed to visit, neighbors seldom saw the children outside, and their homeschooling limited contact with schools or other institutions.

Dickens made his initial court appearance on October 28, and another the following day. During the October 29 hearing, he held a Division of Social Services document related to the custody of his surviving 3-year-old son. Strict privacy laws prevent the release of details about the toddler’s custody.

The capital defender’s office appointed Michelle Moore to represent Dickens, who is being held without bond at the Johnston County jail. Moore declined to comment on the case.

In November, search warrants unveiled additional disturbing details about the case. Dickens revealed to investigators that he buried a fifth child, a one-month-old infant named Riley, about four feet into the ground in the woods behind his Zebulon home. According to the warrants, Dickens said the baby died shortly after the family moved into the residence.

The documents also disclosed Dickens’ accounts of how the four other children died. He claimed 6-year-old Leah died after he “disciplined” her, 10-year-old Wellington IV appeared to die of malnutrition during boxing lessons, and 18-year-old Sean Brasfield also died from malnutrition. He alleged that 9-year-old Zoe died after he taped her mouth closed as “discipline” when she began talking about her deceased sister.

Search warrants also showed that Dickens bought stain-sealing paint in early September from Amazon. Investigators believe he used this to conceal evidence.

On November 21, Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller announced that the prosecution would pursue the death penalty against Dickens. This decision was based on several aggravating factors, including the number of victims, the nature of the murders, and the order in which they occurred. A judge granted the prosecution’s request for capital charges and scheduled Dickens’ next court date for March 27, 2026. For his safety, Dickens has been moved from Johnston County Jail to Central Prison in Raleigh.