FAYETTEVILLE, NC – A 63-year-old mother from North Carolina has been arrested and charged with murdering two of her adopted children after the charred remains were discovered on her property. Authorities allege that the children had been deceased for an extended period before their remains were found in a burn barrel.
Avantae Deven faces serious charges including two counts of first-degree murder, concealing a death, kidnapping, and felony child abuse, according to the Fayetteville Police Department. The victims, Blake Deven and London Deven, who had special needs, had not been seen since 2022 and 2019, respectively. The children were not reported missing by their mother until March this year.
The harrowing discovery came to light following an emergency response to the Deven home for a mental health crisis in November. Authorities learned from a family member that Blake Deven had not been sighted for five years and was last seen with a broken arm. Squad leader Kemberle Braden revealed in a Wednesday press briefing that the investigation led police to find out that another child, London Deven, was also unaccounted for. Avantae Deven had adopted five children, including three boys, one of whom was London Deven.
During the inquiry, Sgt. Jeff Locklear indicated that the mother attempted to mislead detectives, alleging that Blake could be at a Buddhist retreat in the mountains. A similar statement was made in the 911 call she placed in March to report the children as missing. However, Locklear disclosed that the mother’s account was false. Subsequent investigations, assisted by the FBI, directed law enforcement to search the family’s former residence, leading police to find a burn barrel containing the partial remains of two individuals.
Authorities have confirmed the recovered fragments belonged to two different people, a female aged between 15 and 19, identified as London Deven, and a presumed male aged between 7 and 10, believed to be Blake Deven. The investigation suggests that prior to their deaths, the children were subjected to severe mistreatment, being forced into a dark room and intentionally starved with food being offered only as a reward for writing apologies for their behavior, according to statements by Locklear. He also conveyed that after the deceased, someone from the household assisted Avantae Deven in disposing of the bodies using the burn barrel. The time of death was likely before 2019, during the period they resided at the property where the remains were found.
Currently detained at the Cumberland County Detention Center and denied bond, Avantae Deven awaits trial for her actions that have shocked the local community and law enforcement alike.
