Crime
Wellington Dickens, Previously Arrested Seven Times for Child Abuse and Other Offenses, Arrested Again for Allegedly Murdering His Own Children
ZEBULON, N.C. — A Johnston County man has been charged with four counts of murder after allegedly confessing to killing his children and leading authorities to human remains found inside a vehicle parked in his home’s garage.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Wellington Delano Dickens III, was taken into custody on Tuesday and is currently being held without bond at the Johnston County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office and court records.
Authorities say Dickens initially faced a single count of murder on Tuesday morning; however, three additional counts were filed later in the day after investigators uncovered further evidence at the scene.
According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, Dickens called 911 on Monday evening, informing the operator that he had killed his children.
Deputies were immediately dispatched to the home, located on the outskirts of Zebulon, approximately 25 miles east of Raleigh.
When deputies arrived, they found Dickens’ 3-year-old son alive inside the residence, as the suspect had described.
However, Dickens also told responding deputies that four of his other children were deceased and that their remains were located in the trunk of a vehicle inside his garage.
Upon inspection, deputies discovered multiple bodies inside the vehicle’s trunk. Investigators reported that the remains appeared to have been there for an extended period of time.
According to arrest warrants, authorities believe the children were killed on May 1, 2024.
The victims have been identified as three of Dickens’ biological children, ages 6, 9, and 10, and his 18-year-old stepchild.
Arrest warrants for three of the victims confirm their ages, while the fourth warrant does not list a date of birth.
Dickens made his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon, where a judge confirmed that he will be appointed legal counsel. As of Tuesday evening, the name of his attorney had not been listed in court documents.
Records show that Dickens had endured multiple personal tragedies in recent years.
His wife, Stephanie, died in April 2024, and court filings from her estate indicated that five children were living in their Zebulon home at the time. Additionally, Dickens’ father died in a 2023 vehicle crash in Lee County, North Carolina.
A relative, Charles Moore, who identified himself as Dickens’ great-uncle, told WRAL-TV that Dickens was an Iraq War veteran. Moore said he had not seen his nephew in about a year but that, during their last encounter, Dickens appeared to be doing well.
On Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement activity surrounded the family’s home. A police cruiser blocked off access to the street, and investigators from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) erected tents in the driveway as they processed the scene. The residence is located in a recently developed subdivision of one- and two-story homes, bordered by farmland and an old farmhouse near the entrance.
Neighbors described the family as quiet and withdrawn, particularly following the death of Dickens’ wife earlier this year. Miranda Dorta, who lives nearby, recalled seeing the children walking to and from the school bus, while another neighbor, Terry Fuller, occasionally mowed their lawn when the grass grew tall.
Fuller said the community, while relatively new, is close-knit and would have rallied to help if Dickens had reached out.
“I’ve noticed the kids haven’t been out playing for quite some time, but hadn’t put two and two together,” Fuller said. “And I woke up to this this morning. It’s pretty awful.”
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killings. The sheriff’s office has not released a possible motive, but officials have described the case as one of the most disturbing and tragic incidents the county has seen in recent years.
Once a quiet farming town known for its tobacco heritage and railway stop, Zebulon has rapidly grown into a suburban community on the outskirts of the Raleigh-Durham area, now shaken by the magnitude of this crime.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.