More than two decades after Tifanie Kreft thought she had put the hurt, the pain and the trauma of rooming with Avantae Deven behind her, she got a visit from the FBI and local police department.
Authorities visited Kreft on May 30 at her Illinois home to ask about the time she spent with Deven, the woman now facing murder charges of her two adopted children.
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Law enforcement arrested Deven on June 26. She is accused of abusing, torturing, killing and covering up the deaths of Blake and London Deven.
WRAL News asked Kreft what went through her mind when she saw Avantae Deven’s mugshot.
“I was like, ‘That evil monster,’” Kreft said. “‘You’re finally caught.’”
Avantae Deven is charged with first-degree murder, concealment of death, kidnapping and felony child abuse. If convicted on the murder charges alone, Deven could face the death penalty.
‘Nobody knew I was being hurt’: Woman claims Avantae Deven withheld food, beat her while they lived together in Las Vegas
Kreft’s time with Avantae Deven dates back to 2000 in Las Vegas. Kreft was at least 18 at the time.
Kreft’s half brother, Tyson Alvarez, used to be Avantae Deven’s husband.
“I moved in with them in June of 2000, and then, as soon as I got there, it was just like, it went to hell right away, like, living with them,” Kreft said. “The first few months, I lost so much weight because they were starving me [and] wouldn’t let me eat.”
Kreft provided photos she said that Avantae Deven made her take. They would also send letters back to Kreft’s family in Illinois.
Kreft’s mother told WRAL News that her daughter appeared dramatically thinner after she moved to Las Vegas.
According to Kreft, her appearance and smile were “all fake.”
“She [Avantae Deven] made me dress like that and pose like that, and she sent that to my family to make it look like I was OK, so nobody knew I was being hurt,” Kreft said.
WRAL News asked Kreft what was really behind her smile in the photos.
“Wanting to get away, fear, depression, anxiety [and] wanting to kill myself to get away from it,” Kreft said.
Kreft said the alleged abuse from Avantae Deven went beyond withholding food.
“Avantae would beat me, dragged me by my hair, they weren't letting me eat, I was locked in the closet with a bunch of cats that were peeing and pooping everywhere,” Kreft said. “It was horrible.”
Kreft said she was forced to live in the closet.
WRAL News spoke with Alvarez. He strongly denies ever abusing his sister, but says it's possible it was happening and he just wasn't aware of it.
Kreft said she was then later forced to move to Montana with Avantae Deven and Alvarez. Eventually, Kreft left both of them.
About a year later, Kreft escaped and made her way back to family.
WRAL News asked Kreft what she would say to Avantae Deven if given the chance to speak to her face to face.
“Why did you do all this?” Kreft asked. “How could you be a monster like that?
“Why would you do that to me and then these young kids?"
On WRAL at 7 p.m. Monday: Avantae Deven’s ex-husband speaks with WRAL News
At 7 p.m. ET Monday on WRAL, viewers will hear from Alvarez in another report.
Alvarez said he found something that Avantae Deven was hiding behind a wall of sheetrock, which led him to leave her.
If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.