A Florida community was left heartbroken after two young sheriff’s deputies died just days apart, leaving behind their newborn son, Jayce.

Clayton Osteen and Victoria Pacheco were both deputies with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Clayton, 24, was a former U.S. Marine and SWAT team member. After a mental-health crisis at the end of 2021, he died on January 2, 2022. Two days later, Victoria, 23, also died, leaving their infant son without either parent.

The tragedy was especially devastating because Jayce had been born only about a month earlier. According to a family fundraising campaign, Clayton and Victoria had been excited first-time parents who were deeply devoted to their baby.

With both parents gone, relatives and close friends rallied around Jayce. A member of the family planned to adopt him and provide the stable, loving home he needed. A GoFundMe campaign was also organized to help support his care and the adoption process.

The loss deeply affected the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office as well. Sheriff Ken J. Mascara described both deputies as young and ambitious members of the department and emphasized that law-enforcement officers, despite the demands of their profession, are human beings who can also struggle with overwhelming emotional burdens.

For Jayce’s extended family, the grief was impossible to put into words. They knew he would grow up without the chance to know his parents firsthand, but they also wanted him to understand how deeply he was loved.

In the middle of an unimaginable tragedy, relatives, friends, teachers and members of the community came together around the little boy. Their message was simple: Jayce would not have to face the future alone.

The story remains a painful reminder of how profoundly a family can be affected by loss—and how important compassion, connection and support can be when people are facing an emotional crisis.