Table of Contents
- Tragic Discovery in Zebulon Garage
- Who Is Wellington Dickens?
- Timeline of Events
- Ongoing Investigation
- Community in Mourning
- Sources
Tragic Discovery in Zebulon Garage
In a chilling case that has shaken a quiet North Carolina town, authorities say a father confessed to killing his four children—whose decomposing bodies were discovered in the trunk of a car parked inside his garage.
On the night of October 27, 2025, Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, called 911 from his home in Zebulon—a town located about 22 miles east of Raleigh—and admitted to the murders. Deputies from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office responded immediately and found the remains of four children in the trunk of a vehicle in Dickens’s garage.
The victims, aged 6, 9, 10, and 18, had been dead for months, according to law enforcement. The 18-year-old was identified as Sean Brasfield, Dickens’s stepson. The three younger children are believed to be Dickens’s biological offspring, though their names have not yet been released as authorities work with the North Carolina Chief Medical Examiner for formal identification.
Who Is Wellington Dickens?
Wellington Dickens, now in custody without bond at the Johnston County Jail, faces four counts of murder. Court records show he made his first court appearance on October 28, 2025, where a public defender was assigned to his case.
Tragedy appears to have shadowed the household long before this horrific event. Dickens’s wife, Stephanie Rae Jones, passed away in April 2024. Court filings from her estate confirm the couple had five children together—meaning their youngest, a 3-year-old boy, was spared and found unharmed inside the home during the police response.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | Alleged date of the murders, per arrest warrants |
| April 2024 | Death of Dickens’s wife, Stephanie Rae Jones |
| October 27, 2025, ~10:09 PM | Dickens calls 911 to confess to killing his children |
| October 28, 2025 | Dickens appears in court; charged with four counts of murder |
Ongoing Investigation
While Dickens has confessed, investigators have not yet disclosed a cause of death for the children. The prolonged time between the alleged killings in May and the discovery in late October has raised questions about missed warning signs and whether social services or neighbors noticed anything unusual.
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office continues to work with state medical examiners to finalize identifications and determine forensic details. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges.
Community in Mourning
Zebulon, a close-knit community of roughly 3,000 residents, is reeling from the news. Local churches and schools have offered counseling services, and a vigil is being planned for the victims.
“This is the kind of horror no parent should ever imagine,” said one neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous. “We’re all just trying to process how this could happen right here.”
