North Carolina prosecutors have formally put the death penalty on the table for Avantae Deven, a Fayetteville woman charged in the deaths of her two adopted children, Blake and London Deven. A grand jury returned an indictment on March 10, charging Deven with multiple felonies, including two counts of first‑degree murder. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 6, 2026.
Cumberland County Assistant District Attorney Kayley Haber filed the notice that the state plans to seek capital punishment, according to ABC11. The outlet reports that Deven faces five felony counts and that neither child had been publicly accounted for in years before the case surfaced.
"Our evidence shows that both Blake and London are deceased," Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden said as investigators outlined allegations of prolonged abuse that included starvation, according to ABC11. Police say the adoptive mother repeatedly abused the children and that evidence collected through searches and interviews supports those claims.
Allegations And Evidence Uncovered
Warrants and court filings describe a grim trail of evidence. Detectives say partial skeletal remains were recovered from a burn barrel, and investigators allege one child was forced to help dismember a sibling before the remains were burned. WRAL reported that forensic testing and items seized from multiple locations helped corroborate accounts of isolation, torture and severe neglect.
A young woman who later cooperated with investigators told reporters she had been compelled to buy tools and assist in disposing of a sibling's remains, according to CrimeOnline. "She starved him so much that she killed him," the woman said in a recorded account that emerged during the investigation.
Timeline And Court Calendar
The case accelerated after a 911 call in late 2023 sparked months of searches and interviews. Authorities arrested Deven in June 2024, and a grand jury returned the current slate of charges in March. Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West expects the matter to move toward trial in 2027 because of the volume of evidence and pretrial work, according to WRAL.
Legal Implications
The capital notice makes the case death‑eligible and will shape how the court handles scheduling, discovery and the appointment of specialists on both sides. The filing does not determine guilt. Deven is still entitled to the presumption of innocence and to full due process as hearings and motions play out.
Deven is due back in court on May 6 as prosecutors and defense attorneys gear up for extensive pretrial work. Investigators say they are continuing to gather evidence and are asking anyone with information about the children's disappearances to come forward.
