North Carolina

Man may have killed his 4 children over several months, North Carolina sheriff says

Published

2 months ago

October 30, 2025

Man may have killed his 4 children over several months, North Carolina sheriff says

A North Carolina man who allegedly confessed to killing four of his children earlier this week appeared to have spread the murders over a period of several months, authorities said on Oct. 29.

Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, was charged with four counts of murder on Oct. 28 and was being held without bond, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY and the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said Dickens had called 911 on the night of Oct. 27 and admitted to killing children.

Deputies responded to a residence in Zebulon, a rural town about 25 miles east of Raleigh, and encountered Dickens, who told them that his 3-year-old son was inside the house and that four of his other children were dead inside the trunk of a vehicle in his garage, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Deputies found the 3-year-old boy alive and unharmed in the residence, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators believe Dickens killed three of his biological children — ages 6, 9, and 10 — as well as his 18-year-old stepchild, the sheriff’s office said.

The arrest warrants filed against Dickens indicated that the four children were killed on May 1. But during a news conference on Oct. 29, Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said investigators now believe that the children had died in separate incidents over several months.

Bizzell said no motive has been identified, “but as the sheriff, as a father and as a grandfather, I can stand here and say there’s no reason for a father to murder his children.” The sheriff noted that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges may be filed in the case.

Online court records show that Dickens appeared in court on Oct. 28 and Oct. 29 for hearings on the murder counts. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 13, according to court records.

Sheriff: Investigators believe children died between May and September

Bizzell said at the news conference that authorities received a 911 call at around 10:09 p.m. local time Oct. 27 from Dickens, who stated that he had killed four of his children.

Dickens “pretty much called and said, ‘I’m here with my little 3-year-old son. I killed my four children. Their bodies were in the trunk of the car. I’ll be glad to go outside and wait for deputies. I’m not armed. I’m just ready to do what’s right,’” according to Bizzell.

When deputies arrived at the residence, Sheriff’s Capt. Don Pate said they smelled an odor that was “obvious of decay.” Pate added that the home was not well-kept, and there was evidence that someone had attempted to clean up the crime scene.

After responding deputies located Dickens and his 3-year-old son, Bizzell said a preliminary investigation revealed that the human remains found in the vehicle’s trunk had been there “for some time.” The department of social services also respond to the scene and took the 3-year-old boy for medical evaluation, according to Bizzell.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant and determined that Leah Dickens, 6, was the first child to be killed in May of this year, the sheriff said. Bizzell identified the other children as Zoe Dickens, 9, who died in August; Wellington Dickens, 10, who died in late August or early September; and Sean Brasfield, 18, who was killed in September.

The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are assisting the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation. Bizzell added that the state medical examiner’s office was conducting autopsies to determine how the children died.

Children were in ‘conditions that are unimaginable’

Investigators canvased the Dickens’ neighborhood on Oct. 28 and interviewed neighbors, according to Bizzell. Investigators learned that the children had been homeschooled.

“It appeared there wasn’t a lot of activity at the house,” the sheriff said. “I guess the father and the kids were living in the house, and they’re in conditions that are unimaginable.”

Pate said he believed the family was “very secluded” and Dickens’ extended family was not allowed to visit the children.

“They just stayed inside,” according to Pate. “The neighbors said they never saw them come outside, and they were homeschooled, so they were just confined to the house.”

Court records for the estate of Dickens’ wife, Stephanie Rae Jones Dickens, show that she died in April 2024, and the couple’s five children continued to live in their Zebulon residence. Jones Dickens had “passed away suddenly at her home,” according to her obituary.

Bizzell confirmed on Oct. 29 that deputies had responded to the couple’s home on April 21, 2024, to assist emergency medical services after Jones Dickens was found dead by her husband. At the time of the incident, Jones Dickens was three months pregnant and had “experienced excessive bleeding the night prior but refused to go for medical treatment,” Bizzell said.

Investigators later determined that Jones Dickens died of complications from a miscarriage, and doctors ruled her death as natural, according to the sheriff. Dickens’ wife died just over a year following his father’s death after his vehicle struck a box truck in Lee County, North Carolina, court records show.

Dickens’ great uncle Charles Moore told WRAL-TV on Oct. 28 that Dickens was an Iraq War veteran and that he last saw Dickens about a year ago. Moore said Dickens “seemed fine” at the time, the television station reported.

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North Carolina

Virginia signee Hamrick leads Shelby Crest to its 7th North Carolina high school football title by beating Hunt

Published

18 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Virginia signee Hamrick leads Shelby Crest to its 7th North Carolina high school football title by beating Hunt

Wilson J.B. Hunt and Shelby Crest will battle for the Class 5A North Carolina High School Athletic Association title at 8 p.m. at Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham.

Both teams enter with 12-2 records in this contest.

Crest has won 6 state titles, the most recent came in 2015 in Class 3AA.

The Crest Chargers have won five in a row since a 21-14 loss to Ashbrook on Oct. 24. During the playoff run, the Chargers have knocked off Concord, 69-6; East Lincoln, 31-14; South Point, 28-14 and Hickory, 39-21.

East Lincoln and Hickory were both ranked ahead of the Chargers in the state.

The Hunt Warriors carry a 6-game winning streak into the finals. One of the two losses came against fellow finalist Tarboro, which is in the 2A finals.

The postseason run has included a pair of close wins for the Warriors, 30-28 against Eastern Alamance in the first round and then 32-29 over Croatan in the quarterfinals. Last week, Hunt beat Northside-Jacksonville, 20-7, to punch the ticket to the finals.

According to MaxPreps, dating back to 2004, these teams have not played.

Crest

QB Ely Hamrick, sr. — 2,686 yards passing and 29 TDs; 706 yards rushing and 17 TDs; signed with Virginia; once played at IMG Academy

RB Malachi Gamble, jr. — 501 yards rushing and 9 TDs

WR Michael Edwards, sr. — 48 catches for 801 yards and 8 TDs; 24 carries for 248 yards and 10 TDs

WR Namjay Thompson, jr. — Has 47 catches for 804 yards and 13 TDs

LB Chris Gunter, sr. — Leads team with 81 tackles; has 10 TFL

S D’Various Surratt, sr. — Team-high 4 interceptions; signed with North Carolina State

S Lyrick Pettis, sr. — 3 interceptions; Duke signee

Hunt

LB Judah Harris, jr. — 184 tackles, 49 TFL, 6 sacks, 56 QB hurries, 2 FF, 2 FR

DT CJ Dickerson, jr. — 174 tackles, 46 TFL, 15 sacks, 40 QB hurries

WR/CB Isaiah Chadwick, sr. — 6 interceptions; 23 catches, 361 yards, 2 TDs

WR/CB Jamauris Howard, sr. — 16 catches for 307 yards, 3 TDs; 8 interceptions

LB Trevorous Cooper, fr. — 127 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FR

QB Mez Harris, jr. — 1,435 yards passing and 8 TDs; 122 carries for 1,271 yards and 16 TDs rushing

RB Doryan Jones, so. — 243 carries for 1,754 yards and 21 TDS

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The 5A @NCFarmBureau Sportsmanship Award recipients, presented by NCHSAA Board members Eddie Doll and Chris Blanton. Congrats!
🏈 Mez Harris (#2) @Hunt_High_NC
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— NCHSAA (@NCHSAA) December 14, 2025

	1st Advertisement	2nd	3rd	4th
Hunt	7 Advertisement	7	0	0	14
Crest Advertisement	7	17	7	0	31 Advertisement

Hunt gets the all first

Nehemiah Rayquan Parker nearly gets a pick for Crest. Bobbled it twice but it fell to the ground

Crest gets the ball

Hamrick to Edwards for a first down and the ball is near midfield

Big play! Cooper with a blocked punt with 8:02 left. The Warriors will have good field position

Jones with a first-down run. Ball at the 30-yard line; Pettis is hurt on the play

Jones with another big run off tackle. This time, going to the right; Ball at the 5-yard line

Jones with another carry and taken down at the 2 The ball pops out but he is ruled down by contact

TOUCHDOWN! Harris with a 2-yard run at 5:42. PAT is good. Hunt 7, Crest 0

Crest has to punt again. Hunt ball with 4:46 left but ball at the Crest 43-yard line

TURNVOER! Hunt goes deep and Javion Hopper hauls it in. Ball at the 5-yard line. 4:32 left

Ball at the 1-yard line after a TFL

Hamrick to Thompson for a 49-yard completion 2:58 left

Big play! Jason Black runs down to the 3-yard line but a horse collar tackle will make it closer. Crest ball at the 2

Flags on the play

Offsides on Crest

1st and goal at the 7

TOUCHDOWN! Edwards with TD no. 11 on the season. Hamrick ran ahead of Edwards toward the goal line. 1:29 left. Crest 7, Hunt 7

Touchdown by Michael Edwards for Crest. Crest 7 – Hunt 7. 1:29 left in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/QygPT3Dnt4
— What’s Up Shopper (@WhatsUpShopper) December 14, 2025

4th and 1 at the 35 now for Crest; Hunt jumped off sides to make it a little bit shorter

TOUCHDOWN! Edwards with 35-yard run and Hamrick is one of the lead blockers. Crest 14, Hunt 7, 9:17 left in 2nd

Touchdown by Michael Edwards for Crest. Crest 14 – Hunt 7. 9:17 left in the half. pic.twitter.com/YqroLPdlds
— What’s Up Shopper (@WhatsUpShopper) December 14, 2025

Hunt punts; Crest taking over with 5:57 left

TV timeout

Black with a 9-yard run on the first play for the Chargers

Hamrick keeps it and runs for a first down. Ball into Hunt territory; 6-foot-5 TE Romeo Sanders with a big block for the Chargers

Hunt calls a timeout with 3:52 left. Chargers are driving

Edwards in a QB in a Wildcat formation and gets down to the 5 but flags on the play

Holding on Chargers will move the ball back

On a draw, Jason Black runs up the middle and the ball is at the 6.

TOUCHDOWN! Hamrick on a tush-push play. 2:06 left. Crest 20, Hunt 7

Offsides on Hunt; offense coming out for 2 points now

A lineman jumps offsides and Crest is sending kicking unit out for the second time

PAT is good. Crest 21, Hunt 7

Television replay just saw the flag thrown on Crest prior to the game; don’t see that often

TOUCHDOWN! Harris tries to pass; finds no one and goes through a entire Crest defense for an 80-yard score. 1:42 left. Crest 21, Hunt 14

Crest calls timeout with 18 seconds left

Hamrick to Surratt — usually a defensive player — for a big gain. Ball at 10

Another timeout with 8 seconds left

incomplete pass; 4 seconds left

FIELD GOAL Carson Grier with a 27-yard FG. 0:00; Crest 24, Hunt 14

Crest gets the ball first

Hamrick to Brock Melton for a first down. WR got an extra 7 yards after initial tackle

Unsporstmanlike call against Crest; guessing for Melton’s celebration after catch, but no mic on ref that time to know who call was against and I can’t read lips that well

TOUCHDOWN! Hamrick with another TD run from the 24. 9:56 left Crest 31, Hunt 14

Jones gets the ball near midfield with a long run. He’s up to nearly 100 yards on the night. Ball is at the 48

Harris drops back and finds nothing. He runs for a first down and the ball is at the 32

Bad snap — high — turns into a TFL for Christian Stowe. 4th down coming up for Hunt with 5:37 left and rolling

TURNOVER! 38-yard FG goes wide right; 5:10 left

Crest ball coming out of Media timeout

Hamrick and Black with back-to-back first down runs. Ball at a midfield for the Chargers

Cooper is hurt for Hunt with 2:03 left. He looks to be favoring a shoulder injury

TURNVOER! Harris with an interception with 7 seconds left in third quarter

Incomplete pass; Hunt still doesn’t have any passing yards; Incomplete pass celebration gets a flag on Crest. 1 second left in the 3rd

Hunt calls a timeout with 11:53 left

Hunt punts the ball again; Crest ball with 10:45 left

Big play from Hamrick to Edwards and the ball is at the 13-yard line now.

Crest facing a 4th and 31

TOUCHDOWN! Hamrick to Thompson for a TD at 4:16.

Thompson did a backflip after TD and a flag followed, so … connect the dot

Unsportsmanlike call on Crest; so touchdown is off the board

TURNOVER! Harris fumbles and Gunter recovers with 3:22

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North Carolina

Expectations for North Carolina Against USC Upstate

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Expectations for North Carolina Against USC Upstate

Sunday’s matchup will be a step down in competition, as the North Carolina Tar Heels’ recent schedule has featured Michigan State, Kentucky, and Georgetown in the last four weeks. With all due respect to the USC Upstate Spartans, they are not in the same class as any of the three teams mentioned above.

North Carolina’s coaching staff and personnel should not view this game as a pointless outing, as the Tar Heels can utilize this matchup to continue developing key features that will serve them well down the road.

With that being said, here are a couple of expectations for North Carolina in a home matchup against USC Upstate.

Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar Should Continue Dominance

Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) with the ball as Georgetown Hoyas forward Isaiah Abraham (7) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Tar Heels’ frontcourt, consisting of Veesaar and Wilson, has been the team’s driving force on both ends of the floor. That trend should continue on Saturday against USC Upstate, as the Spartans are an undersized team, with their tallest player at 6-foot-9.

This season, Wilson is averaging 19.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game, while shooting 53.2 percent from the field. Meanwhile, Veesaar is averaging 16.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting 63.6 percent from the field.

Both players could total career highs in points and rebounds in this game, which could easily translate to 20+ in each category.

Another Steppingstone for the Backcourt

Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Kyan Evans (0) passes the ball to forward Caleb Wilson (8) as Georgetown Hoyas forward Isaiah Abraham (7) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

North Carolina’s backcourt produced a complete group effort against Georgetown on Sunday, with Kyan Evans and Derek Dixon having standout performances. Evans totaled seven points and four assists, which all occurred in the opening minutes, but it set the tone for the Tar Heels. Dixon scored 14 points, while shooting 5-of-7 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range.

Head coach Hubert Davis highlighted both players’ performances against the Hoyas during his postgame press conference.

“I thought the start that [Kyan Evans] had was huge for us,” Davis said. “I mean, it’s not just the shots that he made. He was confident, he was aggressive, he was on point. It’s been five out of eight games where he’s gotten into foul trouble, so we’ve [got to] find a way to keep him out there on the floor.”

Dec 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis talks with guard Kyan Evans (0) and guard Derek Dixon (3) in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

“I really like [Kyan] and Derek [Dixon] on the floor at the same time,” Davis continued. “I’ve always said that I love multiple ball handlers. You can’t take us out of our offense. And with those two, with the way that Georgetown was switching defenses, we always had somebody that can handle the basketball and get us into a set and get us organized.”

That was the first time in weeks where Evans was playing with complete confidence and was not hesitant shooting the ball from the perimeter. As for Dixon, it was the second straight game the freshman guard played a monumental role in the team’s win. Both players have an opportunity to replicate that level of production on Saturday.

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North Carolina

North Carolina film grants to create 4,900 jobs, boost economy

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina film grants to create 4,900 jobs, boost economy

(WLOS) — North Carolina has approved film and entertainment grants for two television series and an independent feature-length film.

According to a release from Gov. Josh Stein, this is expected to create nearly 5,000 jobs and spend more than $113 million during production.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: THE SURPRISINGLY GLAMOROUS STOMPING GROUND OF OSCAR FAVORITES!

The productions include season two of “The Hunting Wives,” approved for an award of up to $15 million, filming around Lake Norman and Charlotte, and the new series “RJ Decker” in New Hanover County, which was approved for an award of up to $11.6 million.

The independent thriller “Widow,” which was approved for an award of up to $1.8 million, also recently completed filming in Davidson, Forsyth, Stokes, and Yadkin counties.

DISTRICT 12 OF ‘THE HUNGER GAMES’ IS NOW A HISTORIC PLACE IN NORTH CAROLINA

“We are excited to have these new productions in North Carolina creating 4,900 jobs for our state’s crew and film-friendly businesses,” Stein said in the release. “North Carolina remains a top state for film, and these grants enable us to continue our strong tradition of TV and film production excellence.”

Additionally, the romantic comedy film “Merv,” which was filmed in New Hanover County and received a North Carolina Film grant, released on Amazon’s Prime Video on Dec. 10.

CELEBRATING 70 YEARS: MOVIE MAGIC IN THE MOUNTAINS

Other productions that were recently filmed in North Carolina include the films “Christy” and “Roofman,” as well as the popular series “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”

“These productions bring direct economic benefits and also raise the state’s visibility among audiences, leading to increased tourist activity and visitor spending over time,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley.

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