North Carolina father admits to killing his five children, including four and a fifth child.

In what is being described as one of the most tragic cases in Johnston County, North Carolina, a father has allegedly confessed to the deaths of five of his children. Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, was taken into custody on October 27 after he called 911 and reportedly stated that he had killed his children. Law enforcement authorities discovered the bodies of four children in the trunk of his vehicle shortly thereafter.

The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office responded to Dickens’ home in Zebulon, where they found the remains of four children who had reportedly been deceased for an extended period. The children included a six-year-old girl and her nine-year-old sister. Investigators indicated that Dickens claimed the first child to die was the six-year-old, whom he had disciplined several months prior. Dickens is accused of later killing the nine-year-old after she spoke about her sister’s death, allegedly by taping her mouth shut.

The tragic revelation continued with the identification of two additional victims, a ten-year-old son and an eighteen-year-old stepson, both believed to have succumbed to malnutrition, according to Dickens’ account to authorities. In a particularly harrowing admission, Dickens allegedly stated that he had also lost a fifth child, a one-month-old boy, shortly after moving into the home. He claimed that the infant died from an illness, stating that he had buried the child in an unmarked grave approximately four feet deep. As of the latest reports, the infant’s remains had not been located.

Authorities reported discovering a three-year-old boy in the home during their investigation, who appeared to be unharmed. However, the presence of an “unusual amount” of cleaning supplies and indications of a hurried paint job in portions of the residence raised red flags for investigators.

Dickens has been indicted on four counts of murder earlier this month, as authorities continue to piece together the events leading to the tragic deaths. Investigations remain ongoing, with law enforcement looking into potential motives and circumstances surrounding the family’s past, including the death of Dickens’ wife in April 2024, which was ruled natural due to complications from a miscarriage.

The Johnston County community is left grappling with the aftermath of this devastating incident, as questions linger about the safety and welfare of children in familial settings. The case continues to unfold, drawing attention to themes of familial violence and the protective measures necessary for vulnerable populations.