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A man from North Carolina is facing murder charges after a horrific discovery in Johnston County in October.
Wellington Dickens III, aged 38, was indicted on four counts of murder by a Johnston County grand jury on Monday, as reported by ABC 11. This legal action follows a disturbing incident that took place on October 27.
On that day, Dickens made a nearly seven-minute 911 call, during which he informed the dispatcher that his four biological children and his teenage stepson were deceased in the trunk of a car located in the garage. This chilling account was earlier detailed by CrimeOnline.
Upon arrival at the scene on Springtooth Drive in Zebulon, police discovered Dickens’ 3-year-old son alive inside the house. Tragically, the other victims were found in the car’s trunk, and investigators noted that the bodies appeared to have been there for an extended period.
The News & Observer has identified the victims, further adding to the sorrow surrounding this case. Their identities were confirmed as follows:
- Leah Dickens, 6
- Zoe Dickens, 9
- Wellington Dickens IV, 10
- Sean Brasfield, 18
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said that the killings happened over a span of months. Leah died in May, followed by Zoe in August, Wellington in August or September, and Sean in September.
Sheriff’s Capt. Don Pate said that responding deputies detected an “obvious of decay” odor upon arriving at the home. The deputies also found evidence that someone tried to clean up a crime scene.
Pate added that the children were homeschooled and not allowed visitation with extended family members.
“I never would have thought this would happen,” Sean Brasfield’s father told WTVD. “I know there are a lot of eyes on Sean but there are three other innocent children who died.”
The father said his son had had cerebral palsy and could only see out of one eye.
Online court records indicated that Sean’s mother, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, passed away in 2024. She reportedly died of natural causes, following excessive bleeding and complications with a miscarriage.
Sean’s father reportedly said that once Stephanie started dating the defendant over a decade ago, he was cut off from spending time with his son. He told WTVD that he last saw Sean in 2014.
In August 2025, following Stephanie’s death, Sean’s father and the defendant spoke briefly on Facebook. Dickens reportedly asked for help with Sean, but “nothing” happened after the conversation.
The motive for the murders is unclear. The state medical examiner is conducting autopsies to determine how the children died.
Dickens is being held without bond at the Johnston County Jail.
[Feature Photo via Johnson County SO]
