ZEBULON, N.C. — New court documents released on Monday have revealed more chilling details about Wellington Dickens III, the man charged with murdering his four children. Authorities have confirmed that Dickens and his wife had a fifth child, a newborn who reportedly died shortly after the family moved into their Zebulon residence.
Dickens is currently facing multiple charges of first-degree murder following an alarming 911 call made in October. During the call, he admitted to the deaths of his biological children and stepson, attributing the tragic circumstances to a troubling combination of neglect and severe punishment. Investigators have since pursued allegations that the couple had another child, named Riley, who died under mysterious circumstances.
According to the warrants, Riley was roughly one month old when Dickens claimed the infant’s health began to deteriorate. The cause of death remains unclear, and it has been reported that the baby’s passing was never logged with authorities. Family members told investigators they had no knowledge of the child, and its existence was kept hidden from them after the family moved.
In the aftermath of the child’s death, Dickens reported that he wrapped Riley’s body in plastic before burying it in a makeshift grave in the woods behind their home. Investigators have been actively searching for the burial site but have yet to find any trace of the infant’s remains.
Neighbors have noted that the home has been a focal point for law enforcement since Dickens’s arrest. Multiple visits from sheriff’s deputies and the State Bureau of Investigation have been reported, including an unsettling incident captured on video, where Dickens appeared in shackles alongside investigators, visibly distressed.
The investigation has since revealed a timeline of the other children’s deaths, which Dickens detailed in his statements. He recounted that his 5-year-old daughter, Leah, was the first to die. Dickens indicated he had disciplined her and found her unresponsive upon checking on her. Following Leah’s death, 9-year-old Zoe also died after Dickens admitted to taping her mouth shut, claiming he was disciplining her. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of his son, Wellington IV, 10, and his 18-year-old stepson, Sean, were similarly grim. Dickens alleged they both succumbed to malnutrition, a claim he made while discussing their living conditions.
Further investigation into the Dickens home revealed that the interior had recently been repainted. Authorities noted conduct consistent with attempts to conceal evidence, including online searches for special paint designed to cover stains. Investigators are now considering using chemical analysis to uncover any hidden bloodstains beneath the layers of paint.
As the investigation continues, the Zebulon community remains shocked by the grim allegations surrounding the Dickens family. Officials emphasize the need for ongoing inquiries into the circumstances of all five children’s deaths, emphasizing the tragedy that has unfolded in what should have been a safe home.