Jay Edward Ostrem, a former mayor of Centerville, South Dakota, faces first-degree murder charges following the deaths of three individuals on Monday night.
Ostrem, 64, is accused of committing the murders with a “premeditated design,” according to court documents filed on Tuesday.
“Jay Ostrem has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and law enforcement has secured the scene,” stated Attorney General Marty Jackley. “There is no further threat to the public.”
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Monday at a residence in Centerville, specifically on the 1000 block of Main Street, as reported by KYNT.
Ostrem, a Republican, was booked into the Minnehaha County Jail on Tuesday morning, where he is held without bond, according to jail records. However, the Attorney General’s office noted that he is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, with assistance from multiple agencies, including the Centerville Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Beresford Police Department, Viborg Police Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, and Turner County Sheriff’s Department.
The names of the victims have not been released.
Ostrem has a history of public service, having served as a city councilor and mayor of Centerville in 2010. He also worked as an investigator for the Turner County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 and played a significant role in helping Centerville navigate state-level scrutiny when the city’s police chief faced a criminal investigation in 2006.
Ostrem was also involved in a legal battle from 2010 to 2012 when former police chief Rachel Kopman filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, alleging that he made sexually inappropriate advances. The lawsuit was eventually settled.
Centerville, a town with fewer than 1,000 residents according to the 2020 Census, was recently named Community of the Year by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
According to court documents, the events unfolded when a “frantic” 911 caller reported a shooting at 9:44 p.m. on Monday, stating that a family member had been killed. The caller identified the shooter as a neighbor and reported being shot himself before communication ceased.
When officers arrived, they saw Ostrem leaving his house. He was later apprehended by a Game, Fish and Parks officer, who found an AR-style rifle near him and noted that Ostrem was bleeding from his left hand and smelled of alcohol. A .380 handgun and spent shell casings were found in Ostrem’s pocket.
Inside the residence from which the 911 call had been made, officers discovered three deceased individuals with apparent gunshot wounds. At Ostrem’s house, an adult family member reported that she had informed Ostrem of a sexual assault by a neighbor earlier that day, leading to Ostrem’s departure in a rage.
The investigation is ongoing, with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and other agencies working on the case.
