Teen murdered mother and stepfather—then lived with their bodies for weeks, prosecutors say

A shocking case has emerged from Wisconsin, where a 17-year-old named Nikita Casap is accused of murdering his mother and stepfather, then living with their bodies for weeks. Prosecutors have detailed the gruesome events that unfolded in their Waukesha home last month, leading to a series of serious charges against the teenager, including first-degree intentional homicide.

During a court appearance on Thursday, Waukesha County Commissioner David Herring described the allegations as some of the most severe in the country. The circumstances surrounding the murders remain unclear, leaving many questions about what could have led to such a tragic outcome.

Casap's absence from Waukesha West High School for two weeks raised alarms, particularly when “weird or suspicious” text messages were sent from his stepfather’s phone. This prompted authorities to conduct a welfare check at the family residence on February 28. What they discovered was chilling.

Upon entering the home, police found Tatiana Casap, Nikita's mother, concealed under piles of clothes and blankets in the hallway. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her neck, upper torso, abdomen, and right wrist. In a separate room, officers located Donald Mayer, Nikita's stepfather, who had a gunshot wound to the head. Both bodies were in a state of decomposition, making identification challenging for the authorities.

According to the complaint, Tatiana and Mayer are believed to have died around February 11, which means Nikita may have lived with their remains for approximately 12 days. During this time, he allegedly maintained communication with his school, his stepfather's employer, and family members, all while using his parents' accounts. Eventually, he fled the scene in Mayer's car.

Casap was apprehended during a traffic stop in Wakeeney, Kansas, on the same day that deputies discovered the bodies back in Wisconsin, nearly 850 miles away. He was driving his stepfather’s Volkswagen Atlas, with the family dog in the vehicle. Officers noticed a gun on the passenger side floorboard, identified as a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum, which matched a firearm recently purchased by Mayer.

Further investigation revealed that the vehicle contained the deceased couple's driver’s licenses, unused ammunition for the .357 Magnum, and spent shell casings. Additionally, jewelry and other valuables were found in the car, and Casap allegedly used Mayer's debit cards to withdraw cash and make purchases, totaling over $10,000.

Initially, Casap faced charges for theft and operating a vehicle without the owner's consent. However, as the investigation progressed, he was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of hiding a corpse, and two counts of theft of movable property.

Disturbingly, the complaint also revealed that Casap had been sending graphic images on Snapchat to a female classmate, making alarming references to shooting his parents and even contemplating suicide. The girl reported that he had been communicating with someone in Russia about plans to assassinate President Trump, which led investigators to uncover messages on his phone discussing the loudness of the .357 Magnum, the same type of gun used in the murders.

If convicted, Casap could face life in prison. His bail, which was initially set at $250,000, has now been raised to $1 million, reflecting the severity of the charges against him. As the case unfolds, many are left grappling with the shocking details of this tragic event and the implications it holds for the community.