A Wisconsin teenager has been arrested for allegedly murdering both parents and continuing to live in their home with their bodies for two weeks before fleeing with cash, a vehicle, and a firearm.
Quick Takes
- 17-year-old Nikita Casap is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for fatally shooting his mother and stepfather on February 11
- Casap lived with the corpses for two weeks, even recording video near one of the bodies
- He fled with $14,000 cash, his stepfather’s SUV, and a .357 Magnum handgun
- Evidence suggests he planned to escape internationally, possibly to Ukraine
- Police arrested him in Kansas, 800 miles from home, after he ran a stop sign
Shocking Double Homicide Discovery
The gruesome discovery of two bodies in a Waukesha, Wisconsin home on February 28 has led to murder charges against 17-year-old Nikita Casap. Authorities found the bodies of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and stepfather, Donald Mayer, after Mayer’s mother requested a welfare check due to suspicious text messages she had received. According to prosecutors, Casap shot his mother in the neck and stomach and his stepfather in the back of the head on February 11, then continued living in the house with their decomposing bodies for approximately two weeks.
Court documents reveal the teenager maintained a facade of normalcy for days after the killings. He reportedly attended school, though he had accumulated two weeks of unexcused absences during this period. In a particularly disturbing detail, investigators found a camera memory card containing video of Casap lighting candles near his stepfather’s body.
🚨 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
Escape Attempt and Capture
On February 27, approximately two weeks after the alleged murders, Casap fled the residence with his stepfather’s SUV, a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum handgun, and $14,000 in cash. Police tracked his movements through multiple states via phone records, indicating what prosecutors believe was a planned escape from the country. His journey ended abruptly when law enforcement in Kansas stopped him for running a stop sign, roughly 800 miles from his Wisconsin home.
“It appears this individual was trying to flee the jurisdiction—not only this state, but this country,” said Waukesha County Court Commissioner Christopher Bailey.
During the traffic stop, authorities discovered the victims’ driver’s licenses, the weapon, cash, and spent shell casings in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Casap had sought fake license plates for the SUV and had discussed plans to travel to Ukraine, strongly suggesting an international escape plan. These elements prompted the court to increase his bail from an initial $250,000 to $1 million after the full scope of his alleged crimes became clear.
Premeditation and Evidence
The case against Casap includes disturbing evidence of premeditation. A classmate reported to authorities that Casap had discussed his murderous plans before carrying them out, allegedly threatening the classmate to maintain her silence and sent her what prosecutors described as “gory images.” This testimony, combined with the methodical actions taken after the murders, paints a picture of calculated violence rather than a spontaneous act.
Investigators discovered Casap initially faced charges related to vehicle theft and firearms possession before the bodies were found. Now he faces much more serious charges including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding corpses, theft, and identity misappropriation. The teenager is currently being held in custody with his preliminary hearing scheduled for April 9, where prosecutors will present their evidence against him.
