The Fayetteville mother charged with murdering two of her adopted children was a licensed adoptive parent for years, WRAL Investigates has learned.

Avantae Deven was a licensed foster parent from 2007-2013 through a nonprofit called Grandfather Home. She later became a licensed adoptive parent.

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Deven is charged with murdering Blake Deven and London Deven, two of the five children she adopted during the time span.

In 2014, Grandfather Home merged with other organizations to form Children's Hope Alliance, which is the agency that provided this information.

The agency requires 40 hours of training and a background check before a child is placed in a home.

A Children’s Hope Alliance spokesperson sent a statement, saying, "Grandfather Home records from 11 years ago indicate there were no concerns for Avantae Deven to adopt."

Children's Hope Alliance also noted Deven had seven letters of recommendation written on her behalf. The letters were from different agencies or private practices, including two behavioral health agencies.

WRAL Investigates asked to see those letters, but Children’s Hope Alliance said the documents are sealed.

The statement also said Grandfather Home worked with county social services and submitted the proper paperwork when Deven adopted her children. However, the spokesperson could not disclose which counties to which they referred because of state law.

Children's Hope Alliance said Deven declined post-adoption support services she was offered in 2013.

WRAL Investigates confirmed Avantae Deven adopted five children across three North Carolina counties: one from McDowell, one from Buncombe and three from Madison.

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