The eight-week-old son of a young couple who tragically committed suicide just days apart is now at the centre of a custody battle.
The eight-week-old baby of a couple who tragically committed suicide within days of each other is now at the centre of a custody battle between relatives.
Jayce Osteen was orphaned on January 4 when his mother Victoria Pacheco took her own life. The 23-year-old’s death came just days after Clayton Osteen, 24, died in hospital following a suicide attempt.
Ms Pacheco and Mr Osteen both worked as sheriff’s deputies in the US state of Florida, with their deaths labelled a “tragic Romeo and Juliet story”.
Now Ms Pacheco’s mother Tammy Meyer is launching legal action to get full custody of her grandson, the Daily Mail reports.
Jayce is currently being cared for by Mr Osteen’s brother, Zack Osteen, who intends to formally adopt his nephew.
Zack, who is also a sheriff’s deputy at the same police department as the late couple and has been granted an emergency court order for guardianship of Jayce.
His plans to raise Jayce have been backed by his employer, the St Lucie County Sheriff’s Department.
“Clayton’s brother is married, has two children of his own, so Jayce is in a loving home with two cousins. And we foresee nothing but the best for Jayce in that environment,” St Lucie Sheriff Ken Mascara said during a press conference.
Meanwhile Ms Meyer’s close friend Kelly Newell has started a GoFundMe page to pay for her legal expenses so she can get custody of her grandson.
Ms Newell has alleged that Ms Meyer “hasn’t been allowed to see Jayce alone” because the Osteen family are preventing it.
“Ultimately she wants full custody. She is in the same county,” Ms Newell told the Daily Mail.
“She won’t leave that county without the baby. She has retained a lawyer to try to put the baby where it should be. And that is to live with her permanently.”
On the GoFundMe page Ms Newell explained that Ms Meyer was a “devoted grandmother” who had planned to be a “full-time nanny” to Jayce when Ms Pacheco returned to work.
“Now because of this tragedy not only has Tammy lost her daughter, she has also lost her upcoming job,” Ms Newell wrote.
“Tammy is a very strong independent woman who raised three children; although none of us can imagine the pain she is feeling we can help her ease some of her worry.”
So far the GoFundMe page has raised just over US$1000 (AU$1392) for Ms Meyer’s legal expenses.
On New Year’s Eve Mr Osteen tried to take his own life “for reasons completely unknown and totally out of character”, another GoFundMe started for the late couple previously stated.
Mr Osteen was discovered when his own sheriff’s department responded to a call just before midnight and found the off-duty officer.
He was later removed from life support by family.
“Reeling from the shock of loss, Victoria took her own life two days later,” the GoFundMe page said.
Ms Pacheco’s grandmother Bernice Bartolini has been among those to pay tribute to the young police officer couple.
“My heart is so sad I thought I was hurting before I lost my beautiful granddaughter,” Mrs Bartolini wrote on Facebook, as reported by the New York Post.
“Tragic Romeo and Juliet story. They are now together forever,” she wrote.
“This loss is so painful for everyone so please be kind and watch your family keep them close to your heart.”
Mrs Bartolini continued: “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.”
Originally published as Baby boy orphaned by double suicide at centre of custody battle
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