Orphaned Son Of St. Lucie Deputies To Be Adopted By Close Family Member

St. Lucie County, FL – The orphaned son of two St. Lucie County deputies who took their lives will now be adopted by a close friend of the family. Both Clayton Osteen and Victoria Pacheco died in the first week of 2022. Osteen attempted to take his own life on New Year’s Eve and died two days later. In the wake of Osteen’s death, Pacheco took her own life, leaving behind a one-month-old son named Jayce Osteen. Since then, a friend of Osteen’s, Kate Ridle, announced in a GoFundMe campaign she established for Jayce that a close family member would adopt the orphaned child. In her campaign, Riddle described Osteen and Pacheco as “joy-filled, first-time parents excited about their growing family, enamored with their baby Jayce, and so in love with each other.” Osteen joined the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office in 2019, and Pacheco in 2020. In his time at the sheriff’s office, Osteen—who also served in the United States Marine Corps—was a SWAT team member and was named Deputy of the Year in 2020. Osteen and Pacheco will be laid to rest together on Saturday (Jan. 8) in Fort Pierce. “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,” wrote St. Lucie Sheriff Ken Mascara in a statement about their deaths. Locally, Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly reacted to the tragedy and discussed some of the stresses about careers in law enforcement. “Law enforcement officers see things that most people never see in a lifetime,” said Sheriff Staly. “They see it, maybe not daily, but multiple times in a month.” Sheriff Staly commented further and said oftentimes, law enforcement officers do not want to admit they need help. You can donate to the GoFundMe campaign by clicking here. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. There is always help available.