Former mayor of South Dakota town charged in shooting deaths of 3 men
Jay Ostrem, a former mayor of Centerville, South Dakota, has been arrested and charged in connection with the fatal shooting of three individuals. The incident occurred in Centerville, just south of Sioux Falls, with Ostrem now facing three counts of first-degree murder. He was booked into the Minnehaha County Jail on Tuesday morning and is being held on a $1 million bond.
The shooting took place at a Centerville residence late Monday night, as reported by court documents. One of the victims, Zach Frankus, alerted authorities, stating that his brother had been killed by a man wielding a shotgun. Upon arrival, law enforcement observed Ostrem leaving the scene and apprehended him after he initially refused to comply with their commands. Ostrem was found to be injured and intoxicated, with firearms and spent shell casings in his possession.
The victims were identified as Paul Frankus, Zach Frankus, and Timothy Richmond. Ostrem’s wife informed authorities that an altercation had occurred earlier involving her and Paul Frankus, which led Ostrem to leave their home in a rage.
Ostrem, originally from Gillette, Wyoming, served as Centerville’s mayor in 2010 and has a background in law enforcement, including work with the Turner County Sheriff’s Office. He was involved in high-profile cases, such as the trial of Ethan Johns, who was convicted of killing a sheriff’s deputy. Additionally, Ostrem was previously embroiled in a sexual harassment lawsuit during his tenure as mayor.
His law enforcement certification expired in 2016, according to reports. Ostrem’s initial court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, although it’s unclear if he has legal representation at this time.
