Johnston County father arrested after deputies say he confessed to killing four children found dead in a car trunk at a Zebulon home.
A Johnston County man is behind bars after a horrifying discovery Monday night when deputies found four children dead inside the trunk of a car at a home in Zebulon.
According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, 38-year-old Wellington Delano Dickens III called 911 and confessed to killing his children. When deputies arrived at the home on Springtooth Drive, Dickens immediately told them that his 3-year-old son was alive inside the house—but his other four children were dead inside the trunk of a car in the garage.
Deputies confirmed the 3-year-old was safe. Inside the trunk, they discovered human remains that appeared to have been there for an extended period of time. Investigators say Dickens killed his three biological children—ages 6, 9, and 10—and an 18-year-old stepchild.
At the time of the news release, Dickens was charged with one count of murder in the death of his juvenile child. The sheriff’s office said additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Dickens is currently being held without bond.
Officials have not released a motive or timeline, but deputies believe the remains had been in the vehicle for a significant amount of time.
In September of last year, Wellington posted a cryptic message on his Facebook page showing a small child in a video with the caption:
“Shout out to the dead!!!”
This is an active and ongoing investigation.Â
