N.C. Dad Who Allegedly Admitted to Killing His 3 Children and Stepson Says He Also Buried a 1-Month-Old Baby

A man already charged with killing his three children and his stepson has allegedly told investigators that he buried a fifth child, a 1-month-old baby, in the woods.

According to NBC News, WBTV and Spectrum News 1, Wellington Dickens III told authorities that the baby, named Riley, was his son and died shortly after Dickens moved to a home in Zebulon, east of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Dickens reportedly told officials that Riley’s health declined before the infant died, and that he then buried the child in nearby woods.

Relatives said that after Dickens relocated to Zebulon, they never saw or heard about Riley again, according to an affidavit obtained by NBC News on Tuesday, Nov. 18. The baby’s death was never reported, and investigators have not yet located the infant’s remains.

Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeff Caldwell said the search for the remains is ongoing, NBC News reported, adding that improved weather conditions are expected to help the recovery effort.

“This investigation remains ongoing with additional details being released when available and appropriate to release,” Caldwell said in a statement.

On Oct. 27, Dickens allegedly contacted authorities and said he had killed his four other children.

“Dickens continued to speak with the dispatcher, saying that he did not torture his children, he over-disciplined his children, and wanted to turn himself in,” the affidavit stated, per NBC News.

“Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the caller’s address and located Mr. Dickens,” authorities wrote in a press release at the time. “Mr. Dickens stated to deputies that his 3-year-old son was inside the house alive and 4 of his other children were deceased inside the trunk of a vehicle in the garage of the residence.”

The statement continued, “Mr. Dickens’ 3-year-old son was located and found unharmed in the residence. A preliminary investigation discovered what were believed to be multiple bodies in the trunk of a vehicle in the garage. Deputies determined what was believed to be human remains in the trunk that had been there for a long period of time.”

Officials later identified the victims as Leah Dickens, 6, Zoe Dickens, 9, Wellington Dickens IV, 10, and Dickens’ 18-year-old stepson, Sean Brasfield, according to NBC News.

Investigators believe that Wellington IV and Brasfield died from malnutrition, according to the affidavit cited by NBC News.

Two months before her brother’s death, Leah was found dead after her father went to check on her following an episode in which he allegedly “disciplined” her, the affidavit states. Zoe died later, after Dickens allegedly taped her mouth shut when she made comments about her late sister, according to police.

“When he returned to check on her, she was found to be deceased,” the affidavit noted.

Leah was allegedly killed in May and Zoe in August. Wellington IV died in either August or September, while Sean was allegedly killed in September, according to the sheriff and reporting by The News & Observer.

Sean’s mother, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, died in April 2024, according to court filings related to her estate. She had been married to Dickens since August 2015, per her obituary.

Dickens is currently facing four counts of murder and is being held without bond at the Johnston County Jail.