Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, is facing four counts of first-degree murder after the remains of four children were discovered in the trunk of his vehicle in Johnston County. Search warrants unsealed on January 14 provide a timeline of the events leading to his October arrest and detail the conditions within the home.
The fatalities began in April 2024 with the death of Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, who was three months pregnant. Authorities determined her death was due to complications from a miscarriage.
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Following her death, four children died over a five-month span:
- May 2024: Five-year-old Leah Dickens died following what investigators describe as physical discipline.
- August 2024: Nine-year-old Zoe Dickens died; Dickens allegedly told police he had taped her mouth shut after she made comments regarding her sister’s death.
- August/September 2024: Ten-year-old Wellington Dickens and 18-year-old stepson Sean Brassfield died. Dickens attributed these deaths to malnutrition.
According to court documents, Dickens admitted to placing the bodies in bags purchased online and storing them in the trunk of a non-functional car on his property.
During the period these bodies were in the vehicle, forensic analysis of cell phones indicates Dickens used the dating app Grindr to meet individuals and invite them to his residence.
The family lived in a secluded lifestyle, and the children were homeschooled, which officials say contributed to the deaths going unreported. A three-year-old male found alive in the home at the time of the police intervention is currently in protective custody.
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Additionally, Dickens informed investigators of a fifth deceased child, a one-month-old infant, buried in an unmarked grave that has not yet been located.
District prosecutors announced in December that they will seek the death penalty. Dickens has admitted to “over-punishing” the children but has denied allegations of torture. His next scheduled court appearance is March 27.
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