A Zebulon man, Wellington Delano Dickens III, allegedly murdered his three children, aged 6, 9, and 10, and his 18-year-old stepchild over the summer and fall, according to Johnston County officials.

Dickens called 911 Monday night to confess and is now charged with four counts of murder, while a 3-year-old child in the home was found safe.

The killings followed the death of Dickens’ wife in April 2024, though authorities have not yet determined a motive, Spectrum News 1 has reported.

The investigation, joined by the State Bureau of Investigation, is ongoing, and Dickens is being held without bond, with his next court appearance set for November 13.