North Carolina authorities are investigating the alleged disappearance of a boy whose family members recently reported missing after saying they had not seen him for years.
This week, the Fayetteville Police Department issued a press release asking for the public’s help with information related to Blake Deven. Relatives have said they haven’t seen him in years, according to ABC11.
“While conducting interviews in a separate police investigation, several members of Blake’s family reported they have not seen him in several years,” the police department wrote.
“Due to the unusual circumstances of his reported disappearance, the Fayetteville Police Department’s Homicide Unit, which also investigates missing and endangered persons, is leading the investigation.”
Police and the FBI searched multiple locations in the Fayetteville area for Deven. A neighbor of one of the search sites told CBS17 he saw forensic vehicles at the scene, which was a home surrounded by police.
Alexandria Lopez, another neighbor, cried while discussing the case.
“Just thinking about any of my kids going missing, I wonder if they feel the same emotions like me,” Lopez told CBS17 while holding her newborn son in her arms. “Two years he’s probably gone, he’s probably been gone for a long time and they say the first 48 hours are the most crucial.”
Police have not said publicly how long they believe Deven has been missing, WRAL-TV reports.
Authorities also released photos of Deven, including one taken in 2012 when he was in elementary school and another digitally age-progressed to show how he may appear today at age 17.
To report information about Deven or his location, call the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-578-2697.
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[Feature Photo via Fayetteville Police Department]
