Two sheriff’s deputies who served in St. Lucie County, Florida, died by suicide within days of each other, shocking their community. In January of 2022, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office announced that 23-year-old Victoria Pacheco had killed herself following the suicide death of her romantic partner, 24-year-old Clayton Osteen. The two shared a son, Jayce, who was only 1 month old when his parents took their lives.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken J. Mascara shared news of the deaths in a statement on Facebook.
“Today, the members of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office carry the burden of a very heavy heart as we share with you the tragic passing of our two deputies: Deputy Clayton Osteen and Deputy Victoria Pacheco,” the statement read.
The deputies were in a relationship. Mascara explained that police were first notified of the tragic situation when they received a call shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve stating that Osteen had attempted suicide. He was off duty at the time and rushed to the hospital.
The next day, January 2, 2022, Osteen’s family 'made the very difficult decision to remove him from life support,' Mascara wrote.
Two days later, Pacheco followed suit and killed herself.
“This morning we learned that Deputy Pacheco, who shared a one-month-old son with Deputy Osteen, took her own life in the wake of Deputy Osteen’s death,” Mascara wrote on January 4, 2022. “Words cannot express the tremendous loss we all feel after losing two members of our Sheriff’s Office family.”
A GoFundMe campaign created to raise money for the couple’s son Jayce, states that the deaths came totally out of the blue to everyone who knew them.
“Clayton and Victoria were joy-filled, first-time parents excited about their growing family, enamored with their baby Jayce, and so in love with each other,” the page’s creator, Kelly Ridle wrote. “Tragically, for reasons completely unknown and totally out of character, Clayton took his own life December 31st, 2021. Reeling from the shock of loss, Victoria took her own life two days later.”
Jayce was born on November 22, 2021 — making him just weeks old when his parents took their lives.
Osteen, a former US Marine, was named Deputy of the Year in 2020 and was a member of the SWAT team. Osteen first joined the force in November 2019 and Pacheco joined in February 2020, The Daily Mail reported.
Osteen’s brother, who is also a sheriff’s deputy, will now care for their son.
“Clayton was one hell of a funny guy, someone you could always count on in the time of need, and loved being an uncle,” his obituary read. “He absolutely adored his significant other and mother of his child. But of all his accomplishments, he was most proud of being a dad.”
Online, Mascara also praised the couple for their work.
“As sheriff, I saw these two deputies as young, ambitious, and a great compliment to my already amazing group of professionals,” he explained. “To the general public, and sometimes even myself, it's easy to view law enforcement as superhuman … but let's not forget that they're human just like us."
Mascara went on to explain that although law enforcement officers face their own day-to-day stress, they often carry 'the stress of those whom they serve' as well.
“While it is impossible for us to fully comprehend the private circumstances leading up to this devastating loss, we pray that this tragedy becomes a catalyst for change, a catalyst to help ease the stigma surrounding mental well-being and normalize the conversation about the challenges so many of us face on a regular basis," he continued.
The sheriff wrote that they are asking for prayers for the couple’s families and asked for privacy for those involved.
“The grief is deep and painful,” Ridle wrote on Facebook after sharing that Osteen was close with her sons, adding this:
“Parents shouldn’t have to bury their children. Brothers and best friends should be called upon for support. Babies should grow up surrounded by the love of their parents. But know, my friends, despite this horrendous situation, I’ve witnessed more grace, love, compassion, answered prayers, and even what feels like a few miracles this week than I could imagine even existed among those left behind. We are forever bonded to one another and Jayce.”
She hopes that all money received through the couple’s GoFundMe page will help provide for Jayce as he grows up.
“Baby Jayce now needs the support of community and country to help provide for him going forward,” Ridle wrote on the GoFundMe page. She said donations “will be used for enriching Jayce's life experiences and securing a brighter future.”
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
