On May 27, 2024, former Centerville, South Dakota mayor and ex-Turner County sheriff’s deputy, Jay Edward Ostrem, was taken into custody. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder after a fatal incident.
The 64-year-old Ostrem reportedly gunned down three men after discovering that one of them had sexually assaulted his wife. As per a probable cause affidavit, Ostrem’s wife disclosed to the police that she had been sexually assaulted at her home by a neighbor on May 23 while they were drinking and Ostrem was asleep. Upon hearing about the assault on May 27, Ostrem abruptly left their home.
A 911 call was placed at 9:44 p.m. that same night, with the caller reporting a family member had been shot. The caller, who identified himself as Zach Frankus, a brother of the deceased, was also shot while on the call and subsequently ceased communication with the dispatcher. Police were dispatched to the scene.
The first official to encounter Ostrem after the shooting was a South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks conservation officer. The officer noticed a smell of alcohol on Ostrem, who complied with the officer’s instructions and revealed he had a handgun in his pocket. An AR-style rifle was found next to him on the ground.
Upon searching the house, law enforcement found three men dead from gunshot wounds, two brothers and another man. One of the victims was the alleged assailant in the sexual assault case.
Ostrem is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the fatal shootings of Zachary Ryan Frankus, 21, and his brother Paul Wyland Frankus, 26, as well as Timothy E. Richmond, 35.
Attorney General Marty Jackley confirmed the charges against Ostrem in a press release, stating that he is facing three counts of first-degree murder. “There is no further threat to the public,” Jackley stated, reassuring the community.
Ostrem has a long history in law enforcement. He worked as a Turner County sheriff’s deputy in the early 2000s after spending two decades in Wyoming. He played a significant role in the investigation of Deputy Chad Mechels’ death in 2009, who was murdered by Ethan Johns, currently serving a life sentence for the crime.
Ostrem’s stint as Centerville’s mayor in 2010 was tainted by a lawsuit filed by then-Police Chief Rachel Kopman, who accused him of sexual harassment. Kopman alleged that she endured inappropriate sexual comments for over a year before her dismissal. The lawsuit was settled in 2012.
According to Tony Mangan, a representative from the Attorney General’s office, Ostrem’s law enforcement certification expired in 2016. While this incident on May 27 is not Ostrem’s first encounter with the law, it is by far the most grave.
Ostrem is currently detained at the Minnehaha County Jail with a cash-only bond set at $1 million. The Turner County Clerk of Court stated that a date for his initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
