NC Father Confesses to Killing 4 Children, Bodies Found in Trunk

A North Carolina father confessed to killing four of his children over several months before calling 911 on October 27, 2024, to report their bodies hidden in a vehicle trunk at his home in Zebulon, authorities said. Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his three biological children and his stepson, whose remains were discovered by deputies that evening.

Deputies from the Johnston County Sheriff's Office responded to Dickens' residence on Springtooth Drive shortly after 10 p.m. following the emergency call. In the recording, Dickens provided his address and stated, "It's a lot to explain, but in a nutshell, it's probably my fault. It started out as me overdisciplining." Upon arrival, officers found Dickens at the home with his 3-year-old son, who was alive and appeared unharmed. A search of the garage revealed human remains in a bag inside the trunk of a Honda Civic parked there. Investigators noted the remains had been present for an extended period and detected an odor consistent with decomposition in the house.

According to recently unsealed search warrants, Dickens detailed the deaths to investigators. The first...