North Carolina Man Confesses Killing 4 Children Found in Car Trunk

Wellington Delano Dickens III, a 38-year-old man from Zebulon, North Carolina, has been charged with four counts of murder after confessing to killing his four children, whose bodies were found in the trunk of a car parked in his home's garage. Authorities discovered the remains of three biological children, ages 6, 9, and 10, along with an 18-year-old stepchild, while his 3-year-old son was found alive and unharmed inside the residence. The bodies appeared to have been in the trunk for an extended period, and the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is working to confirm the identities and cause of death. Dickens made the 911 call admitting to the killings, and he is currently held without bond at the Johnston County Jail. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the ongoing investigation, and further details about the timeline or motive have not been disclosed. Dickens’ wife passed away in April 2024, which adds context to the family situation but has not been linked directly to the case.