North Carolina | Mother faces death penalty over torture and murder of her two adopted children

The North Carolina mother who tortured and murdered two of her adopted children could face the death penalty after the children's partial remains were found in a metal burn barrel in the back of her house.

The siblings Blake and London Deven have not been seen for years, but were never reported missing by their adoptive mother, Avantae Deven.

Deven stood in front of District Court Judge Caitlin Evans in Cumberland County Court in Fayeteville, North Carolina on Thursday. If convicted, she could face the death penalty, WRAL News reported.

She was arrested at her home on Berriedale Drive on Wednesday - months after police executed a search warrant at her home - and charged her with first-degree murder, concealment of death, kidnapping and felony child abuse.

She is being held without bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center until her next hearing that is scheduled for July.

In April, detectives searched Deven's home where the siblings reportedly lived - and made the gruesome discovery of the metal burn barrel containing partial human remains.

Investigators believe they had been tortured, and physically abused by their adoptive mother for years and revealed the horror the children had to endure in her care.

London Deven, the older child, was reported to have been neglected and starved, investigators said.

London Deven would have been 27 years-old, and her brother, Blake, 17.

Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West spoke outside the courthouse appalled by the heinous acts.

'The allegations are certainly some of the worst that I've seen in the almost 25 years that I've been doing this.'

Deven's defense attorney said: 'I know the allegations can't be any worse. I do have complete trust and confidence in our judiciary.'

Investigators were tipped off to Blake's disappearance in November 2023, when officers responded to a call from a child living at the home who was attempting suicide, according to a lead investigator in the case.

The child told police chilling details in which he told them that 'he hadn't seen his brother Blake Deven in about five years and the last time he saw him he had a broken arm. He then told police Blake is now dead.'

At that time, there was no missing persons report filed on Blake, but investigators said Deven filed one after they began to probe.

Upon hearing the inhumane treatment they endured, the children's biological mother told WRAL News: 'I'm so sorry son you didn't deserve this.'

Deven moved to the Fayetville area in 2015 with her elderly mother, and five children she had adopted.

Three of the boys were biologically related and two girls were not related to each other or the boys, according to ABC11 News.

The children had been interviewed by police and Department of Social Services (DSS) who shared the horrific and sick treatment they endured at the hands of their adoptive mother.

They also told officials what they believe may have happened to their siblings - Blake and London.

According to the children, they were kept in a dark, small room and given little, or no food, and if they wrote apology letters for their behavior they could earn food.

ABC11 reported that forensic evidence supported the allegations of torture, starvation, and isolation by investigators.

According to police, Deven gave authorities different stories to prolong the investigation being done. One of those tales included that Blake was 'possibly at a Buddhist retreat in the mountains,' said Sgt. Jeff Locklear, a lead investigator.

In another twisted detail, police said when the DSS came to the house for a visit, Deven had a family acquaintance pretend to be Blake.

Detectives tracked down the person who admitted he took part in the impersonation at Deven's request.

Speaking with others, investigators learned other heinous acts of torture, abuse and neglect, including no hygiene, and were forced to use a small plastic container for restroom purposes for days, weeks or months at a time.

A person who once lived in the home told police that Blake died in 2017 after being tortured for years, starved and neglected that rendered him unconscious.

Deven refused to get her son medical help, despite pleas from her other kids.

The person told officials, that she came up with a plan to hide the boy's remains until she could decide how to get rid of them permanently, eventually putting them in a burn pit in the backyard.

Deven also told one of the children who had been in her care that left the home at one point that she had to put London in a 'mental institution,' as per documents, when they asked.

Source: Mail Online, Ruth Bashinsky, June 29, 2024

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