Fayetteville police have learned more about the cloudy past of Avantae Deven, a Fayetteville woman who was charged with the murders of two of her children.

Avantae Deven, 63, was arrested on June 26 and charged in connection with the murders of two of her children, Blake and London Deven. The arrest was part of a high-profile case that uncovered disturbing mistreatment and negligence the children suffered through while in Avantae Deven's care. Police believe that Avantae Deven killed her adoptive children and attempted to cover up their deaths.

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Investigators have learned that "Avantae Deven" is one of several aliases that she has used.

All of Deven's known aliases include:

  • Prentiss Adams
    • Prentiss Chez
      • Prentiss Giani
        • Sherri Harris
          • Michelle Spiegel
            • Katherine Spiegel
              • Ava Maxwell
                • Kim Nelson

                  Police also provided a photo of Deven from the 1990s in hopes of bringing more evidence to light. At the time the photo was taken, Deven was believed to be known as Prentiss Adams or Michelle Spiegel.

                  Avantae Deven's ex-husband Tyson Alvarez said he remembered seeing a lockbox containing multiple identifications with Deven's picture using different names when they were married from 1996 to 2006.

                  Both Blake and London Deven had not been seen alive for years prior to the arrest. Avantae Deven and five children moved to Fayetteville in 2015.

                  Avantae Deven adopted both children while living in western North Carolina and then moved to the Fayetteville area. Investigators say she tortured them and deprived them of food before trying to cover up their deaths. Testing confirmed the barrel contained two separate sets of human remains, one belonging to a female between 15 to 19 years old and another set consistent with a child estimated to be 7 to 10 years of age.

                  Human remains were eventually found in a burn barrel in the backyard of a home on Beaver Dam Road in Autryville, according to police.

                  Deven is in the Cumberland County jail and awaiting trial.

                  There is a dedicated tip phone number (910-578-2697) for the case.