A North Carolina father called 911 on Monday evening, October 27, 2025, confessing to killing his four children whose remains were later discovered in the trunk of a car parked in his garage. Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, now faces four counts of murder after investigators determined the deaths occurred over several months in what authorities describe as a pattern of escalating abuse.
Deputies responding to Dickens’ home on Springtooth Drive in Zebulon, located about 25 miles east of Raleigh, found the remains of three of his biological children and one stepchild. The victims were identified as Leah Dickens, 6; Zoe Dickens, 9; Wellington Dickens IV, 10; and Sean Brasfield, 18.
In the recorded 911 call released by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, Dickens told the dispatcher he had killed his children, stating it started as over-disciplining. He admitted to beating the children and withholding food as punishment. When asked how he killed them, Dickens said he did not use weapons but acknowledged: “I beat on them sometimes. They didn’t want to eat. I didn’t force them to eat. I’ve told them it was a punishment not to eat. I did a bunch of different little things.”
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell laid out a disturbing timeline based on interviews and investigation. Leah Dickens was killed first in May 2025. Zoe Dickens died in August. Wellington Dickens IV was killed in late August or early September, and Sean Brasfield died last, sometime in September. The medical examiner’s office continues working to determine the exact causes of death.
During the 911 call, Dickens appeared remorseful yet detached, telling the dispatcher he had smoked and consumed champagne before making the call. He claimed divine influence motivated his confession, saying God had influenced him to come forward. He also expressed concern for his surviving 3-year-old son, whom deputies found alive and unharmed inside the home.
The investigation revealed the family lived in extreme isolation. All five children were homeschooled, and neighbors reported rarely seeing any family members outside. Dickens’ extended family was not welcome to visit the home. This seclusion allowed the deaths to remain concealed for months, with the remains apparently stored in the vehicle trunk throughout that period.
Sean Brasfield’s biological father, who requested anonymity, told reporters he had been cut off from contact with his son around 2014, shortly after Dickens began dating Sean’s mother. The father described Sean as having cerebral palsy and being blind in one eye, calling him a great kid. He expressed shock at the tragedy while emphasizing that four innocent children had lost their lives.
The children’s mother, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died at the family home on April 21, 2024, at age 37. She was three months pregnant at the time. Authorities determined she died from complications related to a miscarriage after Dickens told deputies she had experienced excessive bleeding the night before but refused medical treatment. Her death was ruled natural by doctors.
Court records reveal a history of the family refusing medical care. In 2016, WakeMed hospital reported the couple to the North Carolina Division of Social Services after they left against medical advice with their newborn daughter who had jaundice, a condition that can cause brain damage. When social workers attempted welfare checks, Dickens repeatedly refused to let them see the child. He was eventually arrested and jailed until he complied with a judge’s order.
Sheriff Bizzell said family members had made calls trying to check on the children, but those calls went unanswered. The sheriff acknowledged he did not yet know why Dickens killed the children. “But as the sheriff, as a father and as a grandfather, I can stand here and say there’s no reason for a father to murder his children,” Bizzell stated.
Court documents show Dickens had filed multiple lawsuits, including claims against Durham County, WakeMed and Wake County. He sought to recoup child support payments and alleged civil rights violations against him and his newborn daughter. None of the lawsuits succeeded.
Dickens’ great uncle told local media that he was an Iraq War veteran. Dickens appeared in court on Tuesday and Wednesday for his murder charges, with Michelle Moore appointed as his court-appointed attorney from the capital defender’s office. During his Wednesday appearance, Dickens clutched a Division of Social Services document related to the emergency placement of his surviving 3-year-old son. Moore declined to comment on the case.
Dickens remains held without bond at the Johnston County jail. Each murder charge carries the possibility of life in prison without parole or death. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 13. Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller indicated the investigation remains active and ongoing.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released a statement expressing condolences and confirming cooperation with law enforcement. The agency noted it supports county departments of social services by conducting case reviews of child fatalities related to maltreatment from a parent or caretaker.
