Ex-Mayor Charged In Shocking Triple Homicide

The former mayor of Centerville, South Dakota, has been charged with the murder of three people. The incident unfolded after Jay Edward Ostrem, 64, allegedly became enraged over a neighbor’s reported sexual assault on a family member.The events began Monday night, when a frantic 911 call was made around 9:44 p.m.

The caller, whose identity has not been released, reported that his relative had been fatally shot. Court papers obtained by KELO reveal that the caller identified the shooter as a man from across the street, later confirmed to be Ostrem. During the call, the man mentioned that he too had been shot, and soon after, communication with the dispatcher was lost.

When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they found Ostrem leaving his home, ignoring their commands to stop. According to the court documents, Ostrem continued walking away until he was confronted by a Game, Fish, and Parks officer who responded to the scene. The officer demanded that Ostrem get on the ground, to which he complied, informing the officer that he had a gun in his pocket.

Officers discovered an AR-style rifle on the ground near him, a .380 handgun in his pocket, and spent shotgun shell casings along with at least one spent rifle casing. The relative informed DCI agents that Ostrem left without speaking to her, she didn’t know his destination, and she hadn’t seen him again before the authorities arrived.

Jay Ostrem, arrested May 27, 2024 via Keloland

VOTE: Do YOU Stand With Harrison Butker Against The Woke Mob?

Inside the home where the 911 call originated, officers found three people dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The victims’ identities have not been disclosed, pending notification of their families. The former mayor, who was also a city councilor of Centerville in 2010, now faces three counts of first-degree murder.

The motive behind this shocking act of violence appears to be rooted in the alleged sexual assault. According to the court documents, one of Ostrem’s adult family members claimed that a neighbor had been at their home on Thursday night while Ostrem was asleep. The family member recounted that she and the neighbor were drinking when the neighbor forcibly kissed her, exposed himself, and pressed himself against her. She reported the assault to Ostrem on Monday, who then “got up and went raging out of the house.” The woman did not know where Ostrem had gone and did not see him again until law enforcement arrived at the scene.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley addressed the media, stating, “Jay Ostrem has been arrested and charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, and law enforcement has secured the scene. There is no further threat to the public.” The incident is now under investigation by South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation. Ostrem is currently held in Minnehaha County Jail with a $1 million cash-only bond.

(Trump Sounds The Alarm On The US Currency – PREPARE NOW)