A former law officer, who once served as the town’s mayor, has been charged in the killings of three individuals who were shot to death in a small South Dakota town.
In a news release, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that Jay Ostrem, 64, has been arrested and is facing three counts of first-degree murder. The accused is currently being held on a cash-only bond of $1 million.
According to Jackley, law enforcement has taken control of the area, ensuring the safety of the public. He reassured that there is no longer any danger to the public.
According to a probable cause affidavit, three individuals were identified as the victims in the incident. The victims include two brothers, aged 26 and 21, as well as a 35-year-old man. At the time of the report, the victims had not been publicly identified, as their families were still being notified. Furthermore, the document did not provide any information regarding a possible connection between the third victim and the two brothers.
According to media reports, Ostrem had a career in law enforcement spanning over twenty years in Wyoming and South Dakota. Additionally, he previously held the position of mayor in Centerville, although the specific dates of his tenure are currently unknown.
According to the probable cause document, a man residing in Centerville contacted the police at 9:44 p.m. on Monday to report that his brother had been shot by an individual from across the street. The shooter then returned to his own residence. During the call with the dispatcher, the caller mentioned that he had also been shot before abruptly ceasing communication.
After a short time, Ostrem was apprehended by the authorities. They discovered an AR-style rifle on the ground in close proximity to him, while a handgun was found in his pocket, as stated in the document. Following this, the officers proceeded to the residence from which the distress call had originated, where they discovered all three victims.
According to the document, Ostrem’s wife informed the police that she had been sexually assaulted by a neighbor named Paul on Thursday. She then shared this information with Ostrem on Monday night, stating that he promptly got up and stormed out of the house.
It is not known at this time if Ostrem has legal representation. Attempts to contact Ostrem via the provided phone number were unsuccessful.
