In the house from which the 911 call was made, the grim scene unfolded further as officers discovered three individuals deceased from gunshot wounds. The identities of the victims have been withheld, pending family notifications. Ostrem, who had previously served as Centerville’s mayor and a city councilor in 2010, is now charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
The violence was reportedly sparked by a disturbing account given to Ostrem earlier that day. Court documents detailed an alleged sexual assault that occurred last Thursday night while Ostrem was asleep. An adult family member of Ostrem reported that a neighbor had assaulted her; the neighbor allegedly kissed her forcibly, exposed himself, and made inappropriate physical contact while they were drinking. Upon learning of the assault on Monday, Ostrem reportedly left the house in a fury, with his family member unsure of his whereabouts until the police arrived.
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South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has since confirmed Ostrem’s arrest and the charges against him, emphasizing that there is no further threat to public safety. “Jay Ostrem has been arrested and charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, and law enforcement has secured the scene,” Jackley stated. The case is currently under thorough investigation by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Ostrem is being held at Minnehaha County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond, awaiting further legal proceedings.
