Wisconsin teenager Nikita Casap faces first-degree homicide charges after allegedly killing his parents and living with their bodies for two weeks before fleeing the state with their SUV, cash, and a firearm.
Quick Takes
- 17-year-old Nikita Casap is charged with fatally shooting his mother and stepfather on February 11 in their Waukesha, Wisconsin home.
- The teenager continued living in the home with the decomposing bodies for two weeks before fleeing with his stepfather’s SUV, $14,000 cash, and a gun.
- Investigators discovered disturbing evidence including video footage of Casap with one of the bodies and communications with a classmate who claimed he discussed his murder plans beforehand.
- Casap was arrested 800 miles away in Kansas, allegedly attempting to flee the country with evidence suggesting plans to travel to Ukraine.
- His bail has been set at $1 million, up from the initial $250,000, as he faces multiple serious charges including first-degree intentional homicide.
A Gruesome Discovery and Shocking Allegations
The bodies of Tatiana Casap and Donald Mayer were discovered on February 28 in their Waukesha home after Mayer’s mother requested a welfare check due to concerning text messages she had received. Authorities allege that 17-year-old Nikita Casap shot his mother in the neck and stomach and his stepfather in the back of the head on February 11. In a disturbing turn of events, prosecutors say the teenager continued living in the home with their corpses for approximately two weeks before taking his stepfather’s SUV, $14,000 in cash, and a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum firearm and fleeing the state.
During the period after the murders, Casap’s actions painted a chilling picture of calculating behavior. Despite having killed his parents, he allegedly maintained his normal routine, even attending school for a period of time. Court documents indicate that Casap was eventually absent from school for two weeks without any excused absences, which aligns with the timeline of his eventual flight from Wisconsin. The teen’s seemingly casual disregard for the gravity of his actions has shocked the local community and law enforcement alike.
🚨 LIVE! Horrific case unfolding in Waukesha Wisconsin. 17-year-old Nikita Casap was arrested & charged with the murder of his 36-year-old mom Tatiana Casap & his 52-year-old stepdad Donald Mayer.
Prosecutors say he shot them both & then lived with their corpses for over a week… pic.twitter.com/oodME4ggtS
— JLR© (@JLRINVESTIGATES) March 31, 2025
Disturbing Evidence and Flight Attempt
Investigators uncovered deeply troubling evidence in the case, including a camera memory card containing video of Casap lighting candles near his stepfather’s body. When authorities searched the SUV after his arrest, they found the murder weapon, the victims’ driver’s licenses, and spent shell casings. These items, along with the large sum of cash, strongly suggested that Casap had carefully planned both the murders and his subsequent escape, taking steps to establish a new identity and evade capture.
“It appears this individual was trying to flee the jurisdiction—not only this state, but this country,” said Waukesha County Court Commissioner Christopher Bailey.
Phone records obtained by investigators revealed that Casap had traveled through multiple states after leaving Wisconsin, supporting prosecutors’ claims that he was attempting to flee the country. Adding to this theory, authorities say Casap had been seeking fake license plates for the SUV and had discussed relocating to Ukraine. His journey came to an end when he was stopped by law enforcement in Kansas, approximately 800 miles from home, after running a stop sign—a minor traffic violation that led to the unraveling of his alleged escape plan.
Premeditation and Witness Testimony
Police have revealed disturbing allegations from a classmate who told investigators that Casap had discussed his plans to kill his parents before carrying out the murders. According to court documents, this same classmate reported that Casap threatened her to maintain silence and even sent her what prosecutors described as “gory images” after the killings. This testimony suggests a level of premeditation that prosecutors will likely emphasize as the case proceeds through the legal system.
Initially charged with vehicle and gun-related offenses following his arrest in Kansas, Casap now faces much more serious charges including first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, theft, and misappropriating identification. The gravity of these charges prompted the court to increase his bail from $250,000 to $1 million during recent proceedings. The teenager is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 9, where prosecutors will present their evidence to determine if the case will proceed to trial.
