Clayton Osteen and Victoria Pacheco — two sheriff deputies in Florida have tragically died after taking their own lives, leaving behind a 6-week-old baby, Jayce Osteen.
Within just days of each other, Osteen, 24, and Pacheco, 23, died by suicide in a dramatic move that family and friends say was completely unexpected.
Both Osteen and Pacheco worked at St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office as deputies, having joined in November 2019 and February 2020, respectively.
On December 31, Osteen attempted to take his own life and was taken to the hospital afterward and put on life support.
His family took the decision to remove life support on January 2, when Osteen died.
St Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara announced that they had discovered on Tuesday that Pacheco had also taken her own life, although he did not specify exactly which date she died.
The sheriff said he saw the two young deputies as “ambitious,” and they were complementary to the “amazing group of professionals” working at the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Ken Mascara issued a statement on Tuesday where he said it was “easy to view law enforcement as superhuman” but reminded people that officials are still human “just like us.”
He said he hoped the incident would be a “catalyst for change” and help to end some of the stigma which still surrounds mental health and wellbeing.
People face challenges “on a regular basis,” Mascara noted in the tribute to Osteen and Pacheco.
Mascara stated: “As sheriff, I saw these two deputies as young, ambitious, and a great compliment to my already amazing group of professionals. 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.”
He continued: “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 well-being and normalize the conversation about the challenges so many of us face on a regular basis.”
The circumstances leading to the suicides are unknown, and friends and family have described the actions as being “totally out of character.”
Pacheco’s grandmother, Bernice Bartolini, wrote on Facebook: “My heart is so sad I thought I was hurting before I lost my beautiful granddaughter. Tragic Romeo and Juliet story. They are now together forever.”
She added: “This loss is so painful … Victoria and I were very close when I lived in Florida; she was there for me. I wish I could have been there for her. My insides are being torn apart; my heart hurts so bad.”
On a GoFundMe page set up by St Lucie County Sheriff’s Office to help Osteen’s brother raise baby Jayce, a colleague writes that Osteen and Pacheco were “joy filled” with their new baby and were “so in love” with one another.
There has been an outpouring of grief and sympathy on social media from colleagues, friends, and members of the public.
The tragedy has reignited a focus on mental health for people involved in law enforcement.
