A Zebulon man murdered his three kids and one teen stepchild one at a time over the summer and into the fall, according to Johnston County Steve Bizzell.
Bizzell stood with investigators and the Johnston County district attorney and went over the details of the case at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Monday night, Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, called 911 and allegedly confessed to killing his four children, according to the sheriff’s office. He’s now charged with four counts of murder, court records show.
His three children were ages 6, 9 and 10, and one victim was an 18-year-old stepchild, according to the Chief Deputy of Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, Jeff Caldwell. But deputies said they found a 3-year-old child alive in the home on Springtooth Drive in Zebulon. Wednesday morning, Bizzell said that child underwent a medical evaluation and is safe.
Bizzell said 6-year-old Leah was Dickens’ first victim, killed in May. He said the second victim was Dicken’s 9-year-old daughter Zoe, killed in August. Dicken’s son, Wellington Delano Dickens IV, 10, was killed between August and September, and his stepson 18-year-old Sean Brasfield was killed in September, the sheriff said.
Dicken’s wife and the mother of the children died April 21, 2024 after suffering complications from a miscarriage, and her death was ruled natural, Bizzell said.
Few details have been released into what led up to the deaths, and Bizzell said investigators are still trying to determine Dicken’s motive.
“I can stand here as a sheriff, a father and a grandfather and tell you there is no reason for a father to kill his children,” Bizzell said.
He spoke of the toll it takes on deputies and investigators, particularly ones with families of their own.
“I was on the scene yesterday in the rain under a tent,” the sheriff said, describing being there with his investigators and the head of the SBI. “We were there for a purpose.”
He described it as a “tough” crime scene.
“To do what I witnessed yesterday, yes, that’s what we do,” the sheriff said, noting how hard this investigation has been on his deputies and investigators. “We are human too.”
The State Bureau of Investigation joined the case because of its serious nature. Dickens is being held without bond. His next court appearance is on November 13.
Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller said he was called at about midnight on Monday with the news of the deaths and vowed to bring justice to the victims.
“My office will honor these children by pursuing justice,” Waller said.
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