Prosecutors seek death penalty for Fayetteville mom in deaths of Blake and London Deven
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Nearly two years after a Cumberland County mother was arrested in the deaths of her adoptive children, prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty in the high-profile case.
Avantae Deven faces five felony charges, including child abuse and two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children, Blake and London Deven. A grand jury indicted her on March 10. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 6.
"I think it's good," said John Whitker, Deven's next-door neighbor on Berridale Drive. "She knew what she was doing. She was planning, and then she starved them. She took advantage of the lowest common denominator."
Authorities allege she starved, isolated, and ultimately killed the children in a case neighbors have described as "torture."
Police say the Deven family moved to Fayetteville in 2015 and lived in multiple homes before settling on Berridale Drive by 2019. Investigators allege that inside the home, the children were kept in a small, dark room and given little to no food. Other children in the household told police they were sometimes forced to write apology notes in exchange for meals.
Officer statements described the conditions as inhumane.
"We believe he was physically abused and mentally starved, and his body could not take the inhumane treatment," said one officer, referring to one of the children.
Partial skeletal remains were discovered in April 2024, years after Blake and London were reported missing. Blake and London Deven had not been seen for years before the charges were filed. Police said Blake was last seen in 2022 at a Walmart on Ramsey Street, but Avantae Deven did not report him missing until 2024. London was last seen in 2019 in Fayetteville.
Prosecutors allege Deven never reported the children missing, and the investigation eventually led to her arrest.
"It just got worse and worse because you would find out a better piece of information," said Whitker, who has lived in the community for decades. "They were like kids that didn't have it easy. So she was taking advantage of that. You know, so it's kind of bad."
Cumberland County Assistant District Attorney Kayley Haber filed notice Tuesday that the state intends to pursue capital punishment in the case.
Deven is expected to go to trial next year.
WATCH | Timeline in Blake and London Deven Case
