NC Division of Non-Public Education says they have no record of his name or address, meaning less accountability and possibility for the state to check in.
"It appears that people who are not caring for their kids would want to remove them from school settings. And so you know, it's interesting that these aren't actually, you know, normal homeschool families. There are people who are trying to hide something," says Matthew McDill with North Carolinians for Home Education.
McDill says in most cases home schoolers still have community and family support, but in cases like this, it can draw people trying to isolate themselves. It's why he says even for those in homeschool, it takes a village.
"When we when we as a community, as neighbors, see the warning signs, right. Then we need to take action so that the children can be safe," he says.
Both Dickens and his late wife have extended family in the Triangle. ABC11 also reached out to them to see if they had any concerns about the children and their safety over the past few months or any further comment on this case, so far they have not responded.
SEE ALSO: NC man tells Telecommunicator 'he killed his children,' here's the full 911 call