On May 27, 2024, Jay Edward Ostrem was apprehended and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Ostrem is a former mayor of Centerville, South Dakota, and a previous sheriff’s deputy in Turner County.
Ostrem is charged with murder for the fatal shootings of Zachary Ryan Frankus, 21, and his brother Paul Wyland Frankus, 26, as well as Timothy E. Richmond, 35.
Ostrem, 64, allegedly shot the three men to death upon discovering that his wife had been sexually assaulted by one of them. She informed the police that she was assaulted by a neighbor on May 23 while both were drinking at the Ostrem home and while Jay Ostrem was asleep. Upon learning about the incident on May 27 when his wife told him, Ostrem reportedly left the house abruptly.
A 911 call was placed at 9:44 p.m. that evening, reporting a shooting incident involving a family member. The caller, later identified as Zachary Ryan Frankus, was shot during the call and lost contact with the dispatcher. Law enforcement officers were promptly dispatched to the location.
The first responder to the scene was a South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks conservation officer who came across Ostrem after the shooting. The officer noticed signs of alcohol consumption from Ostrem, who complied with the officer’s instructions and disclosed the presence of a pistol in his pocket. In close proximity, an AR-style rifle was discovered on the ground.
Inside the house, law enforcement found three men fatally shot. The alleged assaulter of Ostrem’s wife was among the deceased.
Ostrem’s charges were confirmed by Attorney General Marty Jackley in a press release. Jackley reassured the community, stating, “There is no further threat to the public.”
Ostrem has a long history in law enforcement. He served as a sheriff’s deputy in Turner County following a 20-year career in Wyoming. He played a significant role in the investigation of the 2009 murder of Deputy Chad Mechels by Ethan Johns, who is presently serving a life sentence for the crime. Ostrem’s tenure as Centerville’s mayor in 2010 was tainted by a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Police Chief Rachel Kopman, which was settled in 2012.
Ostrem’s law enforcement certification expired in 2016, according to Tony Mangan, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s office. Although Ostrem has had previous legal encounters, this incident on May 27 has been the most grievous.
Ostrem is currently detained at the Minnehaha County Jail with a cash-only bond set at $1 million. The Turner County Clerk of Court disclosed that his initial court appearance date is yet to be scheduled.
