North Carolina to seek death penalty against Fayetteville mother accused of killing adopted children

The state of North Carolina will pursue the death penalty against a Fayetteville woman charged with murdering of her two adopted children.

Avantae Deven is expected to go to trial in 2027. She is charged with murdering both Blake Deven and London Deven.

Cumberland County Assistant District Attorney Kayley Haber filed the notice against Avantae Deven on Tuesday.

Avantae Deven’s alleged murders are the subject matter of the WRAL documentary “Broken: Foster Care in North Carolina.” WRAL’s documentary and coverage of the topic led North Carolina lawmakers to change state laws to provide more oversight of the state’s foster care system.

Authorities arrested Avantae Deven in June 2024. She is also charged with two counts of concealing a death, kidnapping and child abuse.