Timothy Richmond Centerville, who was 35 years old from South Dakota, got killed in a triple murder on May 27th of the year 2024.
Paul Frankus and Zachary Frankus, two individuals from Centerville too were also victims to this crime.
The suspected person for these killings is Jay Ostrem aged 64; he used to be mayor at one point for Centerville but now stands accused of getting very angry when his wife said that she had been sexually assaulted by someone among these dead men.
image credits : gunmemorialThe Victims
Paul Frankus, 26 years old, and his younger brother Zach Frankus aged 21 were unfortunate victims along with Timothy Richmond Centerville in a shooting that took place at Centerville in South Dakota on May 27th of year 2024.
The two brothers lived close to Timothy Richmond Centerville’s residence so it seems they knew each other well but we do not have more specific details about this connection from available data sources.
It is believed that these shootings occurred due to an accusation made by Jay Ostrem who used to be the mayor of Centerville stating Paul Frankus sexually assaulted his wife. This event has greatly surprised the people of Centerville, a small town with less than 1,000 inhabitants. It underlines the immediate problem of gun violence in this area.
The Suspect
Jay Ostrem, who is 64 years old, served from May 2009 until he resigned in November 2011 as the mayor of Centerville. He has a background in law enforcement with over two decades experience and was once a deputy sheriff for Turner County.
During his time as mayor, there were many problems such as the lawsuit from the former police chief claiming discrimination based on gender that got resolved through mediation.
The small community was recently surprised by his arrest for killing three men, among them Timothy Richmond Centerville.
The Alleged Motive
The supposed sexual attack which made Jay Ostrem furious started from his wife’s statement, saying that Paul Frankus assaulted her on May 23rd of year 2024.
As per reports, it was this accusation which caused Ostrem to react violently and result in the shootings of Timothy Richmond Centerville as well as Frankus brothers a few days later.
The claim about a sexual assault had significant importance in both inquiry and legal actions because it is mentioned as motive for what Ostrem did.
The Shooting
From the shooting event in Centerville that led to deaths of Timothy Richmond Centerville along with Frankus brothers, reports of people at the scene present a picture of disorder and perplexity. People claimed they heard many gunshots and saw others running away from the place in fear.
The order of events shows shooting happened not long after Jay Ostrem confronted victims because he supposedly was driven by accusation about sexual assault made against his wife. The meeting became heated very quickly, resulting in the fatal shootings in just moments.
After this event, policemen arrived to make sure everything was safe and started their examination. At the same time the community was shocked by violence that had occurred within their small town.
The Crime Scene and Evidence
The crime scene in Centerville, where Timothy Richmond Centerville and the Frankus brothers got killed, was very disordered and brutal.
Different kinds of evidence were gathered by investigators such as guns, shell casings or bullets as well as biological materials for putting together the story behind these shootings.
The fact that Jay Ostrem had several firearms and ammunition was important because it showed he planned to commit a violent act and had the necessary tools to do so
The Investigation
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is taking the lead in the investigation of the triple homicide case related to Timothy Richmond Centerville and Frankus brothers.
This agency bears responsibility for giving various criminal justice services, and has brought together its resources to handle complexities involved with this particular situation.
There are many difficulties that investigators are dealing with such as collecting accounts from people who were there, protecting evidence at the scene of crime, managing emotions due to small community impact. Collected evidence is a positive development, such as firearms and their shell casings.
Legal Proceedings
Jay Ostrem, the earlier mayor of Centerville, has serious legal consequences after the sad events on May 27th, 2024. He is charged with three first-degree murder offenses which could result in a life sentence without parole for each count.
Ostrem is held in Minnehaha County Jail with a $1 million bond needed in cash. He has had his first court appearance, but the legal process is still ongoing and more appearances are expected as the investigation proceeds.
The charges are connected to an event where it’s claimed Ostrem shot and caused the death of Timothy Richmond Centerville as well as Frankus brothers. This happened after he found out about a supposed sexual assault that involved one of these victims, making the situation more complicated for this case within our judicial system.
In the period following this horrible event, as the Centerville community adjusts to the new normal, its shared sadness and demands for modification highlight a crucial time of thinking and doing. The departure of Timothy Richmond and Frankus brothers acts like an emotional reminder that we must urgently tackle violence and safety issues in our communities.