Adoptive mother accused of killing children and forcing sibling to dismember bodies

North Carolina authorities have charged a 63-year-old mother with murdering two of her adopted children. Avantae Deven was arrested last month after police discovered human remains. According to court documents obtained by The Fayetteville Observer, Deven is also accused of forcing another child to dismember the bodies.

Authorities believe the remains belong to Deven's adopted children, London and Blake. Blake, approximately 10 years old, died in 2017. The child was reportedly beaten, starved, and mistreated. London, a teenager, likely suffered a similar fate in 2019. Disturbingly, Deven never reported that either child was missing.

The case unfolded in 2022 when one of the other children, aged 15, called 911 expressing suicidal thoughts. It was revealed that Deven attempted to conceal the deaths. She even enlisted a friend to impersonate Blake to create the illusion that he was still alive.

According to the New York Post, the affidavit alleges Deven forced one of Blake's siblings to purchase tools to dismember his body. She then reportedly incinerated the remains in a burn barrel in their backyard. The same child was allegedly coerced into helping cover up London's death as well.

The adoptive mother allegedly threatened her remaining children to maintain silence about the murders. According to the New York Post, court documents reveal she warned them, "If this ever gets found out, you need to take the blame because I will get the death penalty, and because of your age, you won't get in trouble if you take the blame."

Investigators uncovered surveillance footage showing Deven and her remaining adopted children purchasing a red cooler at a Walmart, which officials believe contained London's remains. Detectives later recovered a metal burn barrel containing two sets of human remains. DNA analysis confirmed one set belonged to London, while preliminary tests suggest the other is likely Blake's.

The court records describe horrific abuse endured by the children. They were allegedly locked in dark rooms with minimal food and inadequate sanitation. The documents also state they were forced to write extensive apologies for supposed misdeeds.

Deven reportedly beat the children severely, causing injuries requiring medical attention. However, she allegedly refused proper care, opting instead for natural remedies like applying honey to open wounds.

The charges against Deven include two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of child abuse causing serious bodily injury, two counts of destroying human remains and concealing an unnatural death, and one count of kidnapping. She's being held in Cumberland County jail without bail.