A Wisconsin teenager allegedly murdered his parents and lived alongside their decomposing bodies for two weeks, attempting his normal routine before eventually fleeing with cash, a gun, and plans to escape the country.
Top Takeaways
- 17-year-old Nikita Casap is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for fatally shooting his mother, Tatiana Casap, and stepfather, Donald Mayer, on February 11
- The teen allegedly lived with the corpses for two weeks, even taking video with at least one of the bodies, before fleeing with $14,000 in cash and his stepfather’s SUV
- Evidence suggests Casap was planning to escape the country, discussing moving to Ukraine and seeking fake license plates
- Casap was arrested in Kansas, 800 miles from home, after running a stop sign, with a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum and his victims’ driver’s licenses in his possession
- A classmate reported Casap had discussed his murder plans beforehand, threatened her to keep quiet, and sent her “gory images” after the killings
Shocking Double Murder and Aftermath
Wisconsin authorities have charged 17-year-old Nikita Casap with first-degree intentional homicide after he allegedly shot and killed his mother, Tatiana Casap, and stepfather, Donald Mayer, on February 11 in their Waukesha home. According to prosecutors, Casap shot his mother in the neck and stomach and his stepfather in the back of the head before making the disturbing decision to continue living in the home with their decomposing bodies for approximately two weeks. During this time, Casap was absent from school without any excused absences, raising no immediate concerns from authorities.
The bodies were only discovered on February 28 after Donald Mayer’s mother requested a welfare check due to receiving unusual text messages that raised suspicions. By that time, Casap had already fled the scene in his stepfather’s SUV, taking with him $14,000 in cash and a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum firearm. Police investigation revealed disturbing evidence including a camera memory card containing video of Casap lighting candles near his stepfather’s body, revealing a disturbing aftermath to the killings.
🚨 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
Arrest and Evidence of Flight
After fleeing his Wisconsin home, Casap traveled approximately 800 miles before his capture in Kansas, where he was arrested after running a stop sign. The traffic stop proved fortuitous for investigators, as officers discovered not only the murder weapon but also the victims’ driver’s licenses, spent shell casings, and further evidence linking him to the crimes. Phone records analyzed by investigators showed Casap had traveled through multiple states, supporting prosecutors’ claims that he was attempting to flee the country altogether rather than simply evading local authorities.
“It appears this individual was trying to flee the jurisdiction—not only this state, but this country,” said Waukesha County Court Commissioner Christopher Bailey.
Further evidence supporting the flight theory included Casap’s attempts to acquire fake license plates for the SUV and discussions about relocating to Ukraine. Initially facing only vehicle and gun-related charges, Casap now stands accused of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, theft, and misappropriating identification. The court responded to the severity of the charges by increasing his bail from $250,000 to $1 million as he awaits his preliminary hearing scheduled for April 9.
Premeditation and Accomplice Knowledge
Police have uncovered allegations that Casap had discussed his murderous plans with at least one classmate prior to carrying them out. According to court documents, this classmate reported that Casap not only shared his intentions beforehand but also later sent her “gory images” presumably connected to the crime. The student further alleged that Casap threatened her to maintain her silence about what she knew, adding an additional layer of calculated behavior to the already horrifying crime.
Investigators discovered that Casap had continued his daily activities after the murders, even attending school for a period before his absence became extended. The combination of premeditation, the chilling aftermath of living with the victims’ bodies, and the methodical escape attempt has shocked the Wisconsin community while drawing national attention to the case. As the judicial process moves forward, the preliminary hearing will determine how the case proceeds through the justice system.
