In the quiet town of Centerville, South Dakota, the life of 21-year-old Caucasian male, Zach Frankus, was tragically cut short on the night of May 27, 2024. What began as an ordinary evening ended in a burst of violence that also claimed the lives of his 26-year-old brother, Paul Frankus, and 35-year-old Timothy Richmond. The harrowing incident unfolded at a residence on Main Street, leaving the small community in shock and mourning.
The prelude to the tragedy began with a frantic 911
call made by Zach Frankus at approximately 9:44 p.m. In a desperate plea for help, he reported that his brother had been shot by a neighbor. The situation escalated rapidly, and during the call, Zach himself was shot, his communication with the dispatcher abruptly ending. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they discovered the bodies of the three men inside the home, all victims of gunshot wounds.
As officers secured the area, they encountered a man leaving the residence, later identified as 64-year-old Jay Edward Ostrem, a former mayor of Centerville and a one-time law enforcement officer. Ostrem, who smelled of alcohol, was taken into custody without further incident. Investigators found him in possession of a handgun and an AR-style rifle. The motive for this violent outburst appears to be rooted in an accusation made by Ostrem's wife. She had reportedly told her husband that Paul Frankus had sexually assaulted her a few days prior to the shootings. This revelation allegedly sent Ostrem into a rage, leading to the fatal confrontation.
In the aftermath of the killings, Jay Ostrem was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, among other felony charges. He was held on a $1 million cash-only bond. The South Dakota Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case, and Ostrem has since been indicted by a grand jury. He has entered pleas of not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, and not guilty but mentally ill. The community of Centerville continues to grapple with the tragedy as the legal proceedings against the alleged perpetrator move forward.
