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

A man charged with killing his three children and stepson has reportedly admitted to burying a fifth child in the woods.

Wellington Dickens III told authorities that the fifth child, a 1-month-old baby called Riley, was his son. He claims Riley died not long after he moved to a home in Zebulon, east of Raleigh, in North Carolina, according to NBC News, WBTV, and Spectrum News 1.

Dickens told officials that Riley began to have poor health before dying. He then reportedly buried the child in the woods.

Relatives revealed that after Dickens moved to Zebulon, they never heard of or saw Riley again, per an affidavit obtained by NBC News on Tuesday, Nov. 18. However, the infant’s death was not reported, and authorities have yet to find the baby’s remains.

Johnston County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeff Caldwell also said that the search for the child’s remains is ongoing, per NBC News, with authorities noting that an improvement in the weather will also enable a smoother recovery process of the body.

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

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On Oct. 27, Dickens allegedly called authorities and told them that 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.

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“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 office added, “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 confirmed the identities of the victims as Leah Dickens, 6, Zoe Dickens, 9, Wellington Dickens IV, 10, and Dickens’ stepson Sean Brasfield, 18, per NBC News.

It’s believed that Wellington IV and Brasfield died of malnutrition, per the affidavit obtained by NBC News.

Two months before her brother’s death, Leah was found deceased after her father went to check on her after allegedly “disciplining” her, while Zoe died after, police claim, Dickens taped her mouth when she made comments about her late sister Zoe.

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

PEOPLE previously reported that Leah was allegedly killed in May while Zoe died in August. Wellington IV then died in either August or September, according to the sheriff, while Sean was allegedly killed in September, per The News & Observer.

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

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