CENTERVILLE, S.D. (TCN) — A 64-year-old man charged with allegedly killing three people last month pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of murder and other charges.
Jay Ostrem was indicted in May on three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and three counts of first-degree murder while in the commission of a burglary in connection with the deaths of Paul Frankus, Zachary Frankus, and Timothy Richmond. On June 21, the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office announced Ostrem entered a plea of not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, and not guilty but mentally ill.
The statement did not specify which charges received each plea.
According to court records cited by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, on May 27, 21-year-old Zachary Frankus called 911 and said his 26-year-old brother had been fatally shot. He reportedly said the shooter left the home and came back, then told dispatch he got shot. He stopped responding to the dispatcher shortly thereafter.
Law enforcement officers went to the scene, and a Game, Fish, and Parks officer spotted Ostrem leaving the residence. The officer reportedly ordered Ostrem to get on the ground, but he ignored the officer at first. He eventually complied, and officers reportedly found an AR-style rifle, handgun, shell casings, and a rifle casing on him. Ostrem also reportedly smelled like alcohol.
Police went inside and located the three deceased victims.
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports law enforcement spoke with Ostrem’s wife, who said Ostrem got angry when he found out Paul Frankus allegedly forcibly kissed her and exposed himself on May 23. She said Ostrem went “raging out of the house,” but did not have any guns on him when he left. The wife said she knew Ostrem kept guns and other weapons in their home and in his car.
According to KELO-TV, Ostrem was the mayor of Centerville in 2010 and served on the city council.
Ostrem is in custody at the Minnehaha County Jail with bond set at $1 million.
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