A North Carolina father called 911 on Monday evening, October 27, 2025, confessing to killing his four children, whose remains investigators discovered in the trunk of a car inside his Zebulon garage, authorities said. Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, now faces four murder charges in what investigators believe was a series of killings spanning several months.
Deputies responding to the Springtooth Drive home found the remains of Leah Dickens, 6, Zoe Dickens, 9, Wellington Dickens IV, 10, and stepson Sean Brasfield, 18, according to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. A 3-year-old boy was found alive and unharmed inside the home, as Dickens had told dispatchers.
Sheriff Steve Bizzell revealed a chilling timeline during a Wednesday news conference. Investigators determined through interviews that Leah died first in May 2025, followed by Zoe in August. Wellington IV was killed in late August or early September, with Sean being the last victim in September. The remains had been in the vehicle for what officials described as a long period of time.
In the 911 recording released by authorities, Dickens told the dispatcher he killed his children. “It’s a lot to explain, but in a nutshell, it’s probably my fault,” he said, adding that it started as over-disciplining. The caller indicated he beat the children sometimes and used withholding food as punishment, telling dispatchers he committed various acts against them.
When asked how he killed the children, Dickens stated he did not use weapons like knives or guns. He mentioned smoking and drinking champagne before making the call, and told the dispatcher that God had influenced him to confess, adding he had been a coward for not doing it sooner.
The father of Sean Brasfield spoke to media outlets about his son, who had cerebral palsy and was blind in one eye. He told reporters he was in total shock and indicated Sean was a great kid. The biological father said he had been cut off from contact with his son around 2014, after Sean’s mother began dating Dickens. He had not seen his son in approximately a decade, despite attempts by family members to check on the children.
Sean’s mother, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, married Wellington Dickens in August 2015. She died at the Zebulon home on April 21, 2024, at age 37, while three months pregnant. Authorities determined she died from complications related to a miscarriage. Sheriff Bizzell said Dickens told authorities his wife had experienced severe bleeding the night before her death, but refused medical treatment.
The family had a documented history of refusing medical care. In 2016, WakeMed reported the couple to the North Carolina Division of Social Services after they left the hospital with their newborn daughter against medical advice. The baby suffered from jaundice, a condition that can cause brain damage in newborns. When social workers arrived at the home, Dickens refused to let them see the child during multiple visits. He was eventually arrested and jailed until he complied with a judge’s order.
All five children were homeschooled, which contributed to their isolation from the community. Neighbors told investigators they rarely saw the family outside and that Dickens’ extended family members were not welcome to visit the home. Sheriff’s Captain Don Pate noted the family was extremely secluded, with the children confined to the house.
Bizzell addressed the lack of an apparent motive during the news conference. “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,” he told reporters. The investigation remains active and ongoing as authorities work to determine the exact causes of death.
Dickens made his first court appearance on Tuesday for one murder charge, then appeared again on Wednesday for three additional murder counts. He clutched a Division of Social Services document during the Wednesday hearing related to the emergency placement of his surviving 3-year-old son. Privacy laws prevented officials from discussing details about the toddler’s placement.
Court records show Dickens previously filed multiple lawsuits against Durham County, WakeMed and Wake County, attempting to recoup child support payments and alleging civil rights violations. None of the lawsuits resulted in any favorable outcomes. His great uncle told the media that Dickens was an Iraq War veteran.
Michelle Moore, Dickens’ court-appointed attorney from the capital defender’s office, declined to comment on the case. Dickens is being 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.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released a statement expressing condolences and confirming cooperation with law enforcement. The agency indicated it supports county departments of social services by conducting case reviews of child fatalities related to maltreatment from a parent or caretaker.
