Teenager lived with bodies of slain relatives
A Wisconsin teenager is facing multiple charges after allegedly killing his mother and stepfather and then living with their bodies for weeks. Nikita Casap, 17, appeared in court on charges including first-degree intentional homicide for the brutal murders in their Waukesha home, as detailed in a new complaint filed by authorities.
Waukesha County Commissioner David Herring described the allegations as among the most serious in the country. The motive behind the killings remains unclear. Concerns arose when Casap was absent from school for two weeks and unusual text messages were sent from his stepfather’s phone, prompting a welfare check by police on February 28.
Upon investigation, Casap’s mother, Tatiana Casap, was found buried under blankets near the kitchen with multiple gunshot wounds. His stepfather, Donald Mayer, was discovered in the home office with a gunshot wound to the head. The bodies, decomposed beyond recognition, were believed to have been there since February 11.
Authorities suspect Casap lived with the bodies for 12 days, all while impersonating his parents in communications with the school, his stepfather’s employer, and family members, before fleeing in Mayer’s car. Casap was apprehended during a traffic stop in Kansas, 850 miles away, where officers found a gun, the couple’s IDs, and other items linked to the case.
Charges against Casap include two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding corpses, theft, and unauthorized vehicle use. Prior to his arrest, Casap had sent disturbing messages and images to a classmate and made references to harming his parents.
According to WISN-TV, a girl informed authorities that Casap was communicating with someone in Russia regarding a plan to assassinate President Trump. This tip prompted investigators to discover messages on his phone discussing the possibility of fleeing to Ukraine. The messages also included conversations about a .357 Magnum gun similar to Mayer’s, as stated in the complaint. If convicted, Casap could be sentenced to life in prison. Records show that his bail, initially set at $250,000, has now been raised to $1 million.
