ZEBULON, NC – Authorities are still searching for the remains of a fifth child after a North Carolina father, accused of murdering four of his children and concealing their bodies, told investigators that he had also buried an infant son in the woods behind his home.
Wellington Dickens III, 38, made the grim admission during an interrogation following his arrest in late October. According to court documents, Dickens said his youngest child, 1-month-old Riley, died soon after the family moved to a residence in Zebulon, a community located just east of Raleigh. Dickens described wrapping Riley’s body in plastic or paper before burying him in a wooded area near the home. Authorities have not yet recovered the infant’s remains despite searching the area, and officials say that challenging weather conditions have hindered recovery efforts.
The baby’s death had not been reported to authorities or documented by family members, according to records. Investigators say relatives never saw or heard from Riley following the family’s move. Additional resources are expected to assist in the search as conditions improve in the coming weeks.
The investigation began when Dickens called emergency services on the night of Oct. 27 to confess to killing four of his children. During the call, he stated he wished to turn himself in and insisted he had not tortured the children, but instead claimed to have “over disciplined” them, according to an affidavit filed by Johnston County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Deputies responding to Dickens’ home discovered his 3-year-old child alive and unharmed. However, in the trunk of a Honda Civic parked in the garage, authorities found what they described as a “body bag.” Investigators at the scene noted the presence of decomposition and an “overwhelming amount of bugs” surrounding the remains, which officials determined had likely been there for an extended period.
The four deceased children have been identified as Leah Dickens, 6; Zoe Dickens, 9; Wellington Dickens IV, 10; and Sean Brasfield, 18, Dickens’ stepchild. The affidavit revealed disturbing details about the children’s final days. Dickens reportedly told investigators he was teaching the 10-year-old to box, after which the child stopped eating and died from apparent malnutrition. He said Brasfield, the oldest, also appeared to die from a lack of food.
Dickens told authorities that his youngest daughter, Leah, died two months prior, following what he described as a disciplinary incident. After disciplining her, Dickens later found her dead. When Zoe, the 9-year-old, learned of her sister’s death and spoke about it, Dickens admitted to taping her mouth shut as punishment. The affidavit states that Zoe was found dead when Dickens returned later.
No additional charges have been announced regarding Riley as the search for the infant’s remains continues. Johnston County Sheriff’s officials have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death.
Dickens is currently being held in custody without bond. His attorney has not issued a statement. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the series of tragic events and search for Riley’s remains.