Three people were shot to death in a small South Dakota town, and a former law officer who once served as the town’s mayor is charged in the killings.

Jay Ostrem, 64, was jailed on $1 million cash-only bond on three counts of first-degree murder, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley said Tuesday in a news release. It wasn’t immediately clear if Ostrem had an attorney. Calls to a phone listing for Ostrem went unanswered.

A probable cause affidavit identified the victims as two brothers, ages 26 and 21, and a 35-year-old man.

Ostrem worked in law enforcement for more than two decades in Wyoming and South Dakota, media reports said. He served as mayor of Centreville about a decade-and-a-half ago, but the exact dates weren’t immediately available.

  • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Backwoods small town yee-yee crap.

    I’ve often wondered how many bodies are buried out in the sticks that never get found because the locals, including the local sheriff’s office, all cover for each other.

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
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      5 months ago

      More than a few, but not a lot. It’s far harder for people to just be missing now. People that shot themselves by accident while cleaning their gun is likely at an all time high though.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Ostrem worked in law enforcement for more than two decades in Wyoming and South Dakota, media reports said.

    ACAB. No matter how long it’s been since they’ve had a badge.

  • NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Ostrem’s wife told police that a neighbor named Paul had sexually assaulted her on Thursday, and she told Ostrem about the assault Monday night, the document stated. She said Ostrem “got up and went raging out of the house,” according to the document.

    Geeze