Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden on Friday urged the public to call the police if they’ve been in contact with two people who have been missing for years.
Blake Deven has been missing since 2022, when he was about 15, according to the Missing Children Database. He is now 17, police said.
His relative, London Deven, was last seen in 2019 in Fayetteville. She was in her early 20s. Although the pair share a last name, authorities have not said how they are related.
“We’re piercing that timeline together,” Braden said. “And, as we conduct that investigation, that timeline will become more clear to us.
“(You will) see updates in the future about anything that develops based on the information we’re requesting from the public.
During Friday’s news conference, Braden did not say if police had identified any people of interest who could be involved in the cases. Legally, Braden said police could not disclose whether Blake and London were adopted or had been in foster placement before their disappearances.
“Detectives are piecing together a timeline of events and seeking information from anyone who has interacted with or made observations of Blake or London at any time,” Braden said. “Any interaction or siting, no matter how recent or how old, are significant in these cases.”
London Deven is 27 years old, Braden said. Earlier this week, police incorrectly said she was 28.
Braden said the FBI is also joining in the search for Blake and London Deven. He did not say whether Cumberland County Children Services was involved in the search.
“These are unusual missing person cases,” Braden said.
Braden said police executed a search warrant Friday where the Deven family used to live.
“I want to be clear, the family that lives at the home now is extremely cooperative with us and has no connection at all to this investigation,” Braden said. “These are unusual missing person cases.”
“I know that everyone in our community has more questions than answers right now,” Braden said. “Please understand the Fayetteville Police Department and the FBI remain committed to finding out what happened to these two young people, and publicly releasing specific investigative details is not in the best interest of finding Blake and London.”
On Thursday, the FBI added a poster of Blake to the FBI’s missing persons website. The FBI posted the poster to its social media pages too to reach a wider audience. Detectives and special agents are following leads and have conducted interviews to gather information about Blake’s whereabouts.
The last known photo of Blake was taken around 2012, when he was in elementary school. Last week, Fayetteville police provided an age-processed photo of what he may look like now. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created the age-processed photo.
Police said Blake’s family members told them he was last seen at least two years ago. Blake’s aunt, Miranda Miller, said other family members haven’t seen Blake in five years. She said Blake’s adoptive mother never enrolled him in school.
London Deven was last seen in 2019 in Fayetteville. Investigators released a photo of London from around 2007 when she was about 12 years old.
“Her whereabouts are currently unknown,” Braden said.
Braden said the Deven family moved to Fayetteville in 2015. He said police are in regular contact with family members.
“We’re asking the public to think back over this long period of time and if anyone came in contact with Blake or London, or other members of the Deven family, we want to hear from you,” Braden said.
Braden asked Fayetteville businesses to print out the pictures of Blake and London Deven.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Blake Deven or London Deven should contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or the Fayetteville Police Department tipline at 910-578-2697.
