South Dakota
Former South Dakota mayor arrested over triple murder shooting
A former South Dakota mayor has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder over a triple slaying in the area that he used to represent.
Jay Ostrem, 64, was arrested following the deaths of three victims on Monday night. He was detained by the Turner County Sheriff’s Office, where he had also reportedly once served as a detective.
The incident was reported at around 10pm on 27 May at a residence in the city of Centerville.
“Jay Ostrem has been arrested and charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, and law enforcement has secured the scene,” said Attorney General Marty Jackley. “There is no further threat to the public.”
Mr Ostrem worked in law enforcement for more than two decades in Wyoming and South Dakota, media reports said. He served as mayor of Centerville about a decade-and-a-half ago, but the exact dates weren’t immediately available.
The names of the three victims, aged 21, 26 and 35, have not yet been released by police pending notification of next of kin. It is understood that two of the men were brothers.
According to the state attorney general’s office, Mr Ostrem is being held on a $1m cash only bond in the Minnehaha County Jail, following the incident.
Authorities did not list a motive for the crime. However, in a complaint filed on Tuesday, obtained by the South Dakota Searchlight, Mr Ostrem justified his actions by claiming it was in retaliation to a sexual assault on his wife.
One of the three men killed was the alleged perpetrator of the sexual assault, the complaint stated. Another was a relative of that man, who called police to report the shooting before being shot himself.
A man had called 911 to report that his brother had been shot by “a guy from across the street,” and that the gunman had returned home.
Police said the man remained on the phone with a dispatcher when a gunshot rang out and then yelled that he was shot. After that, police said, he went silent.
“After some time on the phone with the dispatcher, the male calling party then reported he had been shot,” the affidavit said, reported by Sioux Falls Live. “Shortly after he reported he had been shot, the male stopped communicating with the dispatcher.”
A third man was also found dead in the home, though his relationship with the brothers was not specified.
The affidavit stated that Mr Ostrem’s wife told police that the fatal events came after her disclosure to him that one of the victims had sexually assaulted her at their home on Thursday evening as he slept.
The man lived across the street from the Ostrems.
Per The Searchlight, upon learning of the incident Mr Ostrem “got up and went raging out of the house.” His wife stayed inside until police arrived, which happened shortly after Mr Ostrem was found walking near his home with an “AR-style rifle” and a .380 pistol.
A South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks conservation officer was the first to encounter Mr Ostrem after the shooting, the affidavit said, who noticed “an odor of consumed alcohol”.
He complied with the officer’s commands to stop walking, and he told the officer he had a pistol in his pocket.
The date for Mr Ostrem’s initial appearance on the Turner County charges has yet to be set.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The South Dakota Department of Transportation is reminding the public that political campaign and ballot-issue signs are not allowed on state highway rights-of-way.
“This time of year, it is common to find election signs placed along the state’s roadways,” says Craig Smith, Director of Operations.
“Illegal signs create a safety hazard and may distract motorists from seeing important regulatory or directional signage.”
The right-of-way is for official highway signage only.
Signs not required for traffic control, as per SDCL 31-28-14, are prohibited and will be removed by SDDOT crews.
Municipal ordinances on campaign signs do not take precedence over state jurisdiction over state highway rights-of-way.
You can learn more about sign placement guidelines here.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 22, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 22 drawing
24-29-32-49-63, Powerball: 11, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 22 drawing
15-20-32-46-48, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Dakota Cash numbers from April 22 drawing
05-06-09-14-32
Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 22 drawing
17-26-43-44-53, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The University of South Dakota announced on Wednesday, April 22, that Athletic Director Jon Schemmel has received a five-year contract extension running through the 2030-31 academic year.
Schemmel has been in his position since January 2024 and was South Dakota’s senior associate athletic director for development from 2012-2017.
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“The University of South Dakota and Vermillion community is where our family wants to be,” Schemmel said in a press release. “I am humbled and grateful for the continued trust from President (Sheila) Gestring and the South Dakota Board of Regents to continue leading this athletics program. Coyote Nation has the best fans and donors, and we have a group of coaches, staff and student-athletes who are committed to competing for championships and continuing their excellence in the classroom and community.”
The athletics department has raised $49 million since Schemmel took over as AD, including $35 million in the 2025-26 academic year.
The Coyotes have won a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and Summit League volleyball and men’s indoor track and field titles with Schemmel at the helm.
“USD’s athletic programs continue to thrive under Jon’s leadership,” Gestring said. “His knowledge of Division I athletics, forward-thinking vision for our teams and strength in fundraising have all been assets to our university. Our program is in great hands, and I am looking forward to seeing what Jon, his staff and our student-athletes achieve in the next five years.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota extends AD Jon Schemmel through 2030-31 academic year
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