In addition to trying to find 17-year-old Blake Deven, Fayetteville police are also searching for a possible relative, London Deven.
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Felicia Chandler, Blake's biological mother, said it was painful enough to put her son into foster care. Chandler said Blake was placed into foster care because of abuse allegations, which she denies.
Chandler said she only discovered her son was missing in February, when the Fayetteville Police Department notified her.
"I cannot stress enough that the main goal here is getting this little boy's picture out here, getting him found and getting him safe," she said.
Chandler keeps a spread of his childhood photos by her side.
"We love you, son," Chandler said. "We love you so much."
Police said Blake's family members told them he was last seen at least two years ago.
"How can a child be missing for two years – or even a second?" Chandler said.
Chandler wants to know what happened to these children.
"Somebody, please help me. Please help me," Chandler said.
Fayetteville police have not confirmed how long Blake has been missing. The Missing Children Database said Blake has been missing since 2022.
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.
"As far as we know, from the time that she got them, she homeschooled them," she said.
Miller said she doesn't understand why it took so long to report Blake missing.
"It just baffles me why this kid has been missing for at least two years," she said.
She said she never stopped loving Blake and never stopped thinking about him.
"There's a family that's really hurting right now, that's full of questions and concerns, and we just want to know he's okay," Miller said. "He can always call me. I'll always be here waiting for him to come back home."
Police have not said how Blake and London are related.
The Madison County Department of Social Services released a statement:
"The Madison County Department of Social Services had placed in its custody in February 2011, a child, Blake Julian Trenton Deven, who is subject of an investigation by the Fayetteville Police Department. In May 2011, Blake Deven was placed in a foster home located in Buncombe County through a licensed private child placing agency. He remained in the foster home and was adopted in July 2013. It is my understanding that the family moved to Cumberland County in 2015."
The Cumberland County Department of Social Services also sent a statement to WRAL News:
"Cumberland County had no history or involvement with these children or family prior to the current report. We are working in conjunction with law enforcement as it relates to this matter. We are equally concerned about the safety and well-being of these children and will continue to aid law enforcement in their efforts."
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