A day after she was arrested and accused of killing two adopted siblings, Avantae Deven, 63, appeared in court in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for the first time. A judge appointed a lawyer to represent Avantae Deven and set her next court date for July 17.  She was not given a bond.

What You Need To Know

  •  Avantae Deven, 63, faces charges of murder, kidnapping and child abuse 

  •  She was the adoptive mother of Blake Deven and London Deven, who had not been seen for years

  •  Police said they found two sets of human remains in a metal barrell while investigating the disappearances

  •  A judge appointed a lawyer to represent Avantae Deven at her first court appearance Thursday

The arrest comes months after police and the FBI began investigating the disappearance of Blake Deven, who would now be 17, but had not been seen for "several years."

During the investigation, police said they learned that London Deven had not been seen since 2019. She would now be 27. Both had been adopted by Avantae Deven and lived with her, police said. 

Authorities found two sets of human remains in a metal barrel, officials said Wednesday. One of the sets of remains belonged to London Deven, and she likely died when she was between 15 and 19 years old, police said. Though that does not line up with what police heard about London Deven being last seen five years ago. 

The investigation found "appalling conditions" for the adopted children, and they were often beaten and starved by their adoptive mother, police said. 

Investigators said Blake Deven died from the abuse.

Avantae Deven adopted five children, two girls and three boys, police said. The boys were biologically related, according to officials. 

The investigation began in November when police responded to a reported mental health crisis at the Deven's home in Fayetteville, according to police. One of the people in the home told officers he had not seen his brother Blake Deven in five years, police said. 

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