The orphaned baby boy whose sheriff's deputy parents killed themselves within days of each other is now at the center of a tug-of-love battle, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
Eight-week-old Jayce Osteen's father Clayton Osteen, 24, died in hospital two days after attempting suicide on New Year's Eve – while his grief-stricken mom Victoria Pacheco, 23, killed herself on January 4.
The infant is now living with Clayton's brother Zack Osteen, 31, a fellow sheriff's deputy who was granted an emergency court order for immediate guardianship and has plans for a formal adoption.
However, Victoria's mother Tammy Meyer, 49, has now also decided to launch a legal battle for full custody fearing she could be frozen out her grandson's life, DailyMail.com has learned.
Clayton Osteen and Victoria Pacheco left behind their newborn son Jayce after both parents killed themselves within days of each other earlier this month
Pacheco's mother, Tammy Meyer (pictured together left) is now launching a legal battle for full custody of her orphan grandson after the boy's paternal uncle was granted immediate guardianship
Friends say Meyer gave up her job as a hair stylist and moved closer to her daughter to be a full-time nanny for Jayce
Meyer was in the delivery room in mid-November when Jayce was born and instantly developed a close bond, seeing him every day before her daughter killed herself, said childhood friend Kelly Newell.
She gave up her job as a hair stylist in Jensen Beach, Florida, and moved closer to her daughter in nearby Lakewood Park to be a full-time nanny for Jayce, added the friend.
But Newell, 48, said the situation changed immediately after Victoria – who joined St Lucie County Sheriff's Department in 2020 - took her own life.
'Tammy is concerned about the whole situation and wants some answers,' said Newell, who said she could not go into specific details for legal reasons.
'She has hired a lawyer to help her get guardianship of her grandson.
'Ultimately she wants full custody. She is in the same county. 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.
And she added: 'Tammy hasn't been allowed to see Jayce alone because the Osteens aren't allowing it. There are a lot of sides to this story.'
Baby Jayce has been living with his paternal uncle, Zack Osteen, since his parents' tragic deaths. Pictured: Deputy Clayton Osteen
Married Zack (circled) has two children - a girl of 11 and a boy aged two – and has the full support of his sheriff's department for Jayce to remain at the family home and be adopted. He is pictured far left with brother Clayton, Victoria, and his family.
Zack was granted immediate guardianship of the infant under an emergency court order issued earlier this month
Newell's husband Brian also hinted at a rift by saying: 'We went down there for the funeral and it was pretty overwhelming how Tammy was treated.'
Married Zack has two children - a girl of 11 and a boy aged two – and has the full support of his sheriff's department for Jayce to remain at the family home and be adopted.
St Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara explained during a Press briefing: 'After Victoria's passing Clayton's brother immediately took custody of Jayce.
'An emergency court order hearing took place that week and recognized Clayton's brother as Jayce's guardian for at least a year.
'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.'
He explained he visited Zack's family home and said of the 11-year-old daughter: 'She has taken a lot of holding of Jayce and making sure he's getting lots of kisses and lots of hugs.
'It was a pretty neat sight when we got there, with the responsibilities she was handling.'
Mascara added his office 'has received numerous donations as well as diapers, baby formula, groceries and free legal help to make the adoption of Jayce permanent. We have also received from Indian River State College a four-year college degree for Jayce.
Family and friends are reeling from the loss are expressing shock at Osteen and Pacheco's choice to end their lives, saying they were as happy as ever after welcoming their new baby and that the reason behind the drastic actions are unknown
The young couple had just welcomed their first child together, a boy, in mid-November. Osteen and Pacheco are pictured during her baby shower in September
St Lucie County Sheriff's Deputy Clayton Osteen, attempted suicide on New Year's Eve and was later taken to the hospital where he was taken off life support two days later. Fellow deputy Victoria Pacheco took her own life on January 4
'The outpouring of support from not only our community but from around the world has been overwhelming.
'Even though we have received a tremendous amount of offers, Jayce is going to need support the rest of his life and we continue to want people to support us and support Jayce.'
Osteen's father Van, 58, briefly revealed his family's heartbreak exclusively to DailyMail.com while at Zack's home.
'You have no idea of the pain we are suffering right now,' he said. 'It is all so raw.'
With him was a woman believed to be Clayton's mother Kathleen, 54. Jayce was also there, being comforted by another male relative.
The family did not want to comment further and Zack referred us to their attorney Elizabeth Berkowitz.
At Van and Kathleen's home a few miles away, a woman who answered the door said she was 'just looking after the place'. Close to tears, she added: 'Nobody has any idea why this happened.'
Berkowitz told DailyMail.com when we asked about Meyer wanting custody of Jayce: 'We are going to hold off on any comments for now.
'The family are still grieving. This is a very emotional process for everybody. At this time we are going to say no comment.
'Just like mom and dad and the family need privacy, so does Jayce. And we need to give Jayce that privacy right now.'
A family friend revealed Meyer, pictured with daughter Victoria at her baby shower, wants full custody of her grandson
Baby Jayce was born on November 22 and was only six weeks old at the time of his parent's death
Meanwhile Newell, of Longwood, Florida, has started a GoFundMe page to help with Meyer with
