JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — A Johnston County community has been left reeling after a horrifying and deeply disturbing tragedy unfolded late Monday night in Zebulon, North Carolina. Authorities have charged Wellington Delano Dickens III with murder after he allegedly confessed to killing four of his children and leaving their bodies in the trunk of a car parked inside his garage.
According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), the shocking events began around 10:09 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2025, when 911 dispatchers received a chilling call from Dickens himself. During the call, the 33-year-old father allegedly told dispatchers that he had killed his children. Deputies were immediately dispatched to his home on Springtooth Drive in Zebulon, where they discovered a scene that investigators have described as “deeply disturbing and unlike anything they have ever encountered.”
Upon arriving at the residence, deputies made contact with Dickens, who reportedly informed them that his 3-year-old son was still alive inside the house but that his other four children were dead — their bodies, he said, located in the trunk of a vehicle in the garage.
Authorities quickly entered the home and secured the area, rescuing the surviving child. In the garage, deputies made the grisly discovery of multiple human remains concealed in the trunk of a car. According to investigators, the bodies appeared to have been there for an extended period of time, suggesting that the children had been deceased well before the 911 call.
The victims have been preliminarily identified as Dickens’ biological children, ages 6, 9, and 10, along with his 18-year-old stepchild. Their names have not yet been publicly released pending formal identification and notification of extended family members.
Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell expressed deep sorrow during a Tuesday morning press conference, calling the case one of the most tragic and heart-wrenching situations his department has ever faced. “This is a horrific act of violence that defies comprehension,” Bizzell said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the surviving child and all those impacted by this unimaginable loss.”
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, along with the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), is now conducting a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances leading up to the killings. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive but said Dickens is cooperating with investigators.
Dickens was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with four counts of murder. He is being held at the Johnston County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.
Neighbors described the family as quiet and largely to themselves, expressing disbelief at the tragic revelations. “It’s just unimaginable,” one neighbor said. “You see these kids playing outside sometimes, and then to hear this — it’s devastating.”
The surviving 3-year-old child is now in protective custody and receiving care as authorities work with social services to ensure his safety and well-being.
As the investigation continues, the Johnston County community is mourning the incomprehensible loss of four young lives and rallying around the surviving child. Vigils are being discussed by local residents who say they want to show love, support, and solidarity for the children whose lives were so cruelly taken.
This tragedy serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of community vigilance in recognizing signs of distress or danger within families. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as new details emerge.
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