FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (TCN) — A 63-year-old woman has been charged with multiple counts of starving and neglecting her two adopted children before dismembering and burning their bodies.
At a news conference held June 26 at the Fayetteville Police Department, Sgt. Mickey Locklear said police responded to Avantae Deven's home in November 2023 after receiving reports of a mental health crisis. There, the victim, who was in crisis, told police he had not seen his older brother, Blake Deven, in five years. The victim said the last time he saw his brother, his arm was broken, but he is now dead.
According to Locklear, investigators learned that Avantae Deven had adopted five children, including three boys who were related to each other and two girls who were not related. Police said at least three of them had experienced “horrific” conditions at the home.
It is said that the adoptive mother locked the children in small rooms, sometimes in complete darkness. Avantae Deven gave the children little food, and they “were able to get their nutrition by doing paperwork.” That meant writing hundreds of paragraphs apologizing for their misbehavior.
According to police, Avantae Deven only reported Blake Deven missing after the investigation began. Police allege Avantae Deven mentally abused and starved Blake Deven to death, and had others in the home help dismember and burn his remains.
As the investigation continued, police learned that another adopted child, London Deven, 27, had disappeared from Deven’s home. London Deven, who was last seen in 2019, had special needs and required extensive medical care, according to Locklear. Police allege that London Deven also suffered from life-threatening starvation and neglect.
Locklear said investigators found metal combustion chambers containing partial remains of two different people and sent them to a private lab for identification. Officials reportedly determined one set belonged to London Deven. Investigators have not yet positively identified the second remains, but Locklear said they believe the victim may be Blake Daven.
On June 26, police announced that Avantae Deven was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of concealing a death, one count of kidnapping, and two counts of felony child abuse. She is being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center without bail.
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