A one-month-old infant boy is now orphaned, according to authorities, after both of his parents committed suicide just days apart.
Clayton Osteen, a 23-year-old St. Lucie County deputy, attempted suicide on December 31, 2021, and was placed on life support. After suffering with the tragic loss of her companion, his girlfriend, Deputy Victoria Pacheco, 24, committed suicide two days later. Osteen’s family removed him off life support on January 2 and received their son, Jayce, on November 22 previous to the couple’s death.
“On New Year’s Eve, shortly before midnight, our agency responded to a call when we learned that Deputy Osteen, who was off duty at the time, attempted suicide,” Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a statement on Wednesday. Deputy Osteen’s family took the heartbreaking decision to remove him from life support on Sunday, January 2. The great grief we all feel after losing these two members of our Sheriff’s Office family cannot be expressed in words.”
Mascara claimed the couple was highly “ambitious” and a valuable member of his staff, according to TOO FAB.
“Law enforcement deals with not just the stress we all experience on a daily basis, but also the stress of people they serve in our community, which can be quite difficult at times.”
Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts (1-800-273-8255)
