Wisconsin Teen Charged with Double Homicide of Mother and Stepfather after Their Bodies are Found Rotting in Home

Nikita Casap's Wisconsin high school welfare officers sounded the alarm after he missed two weeks of school, despite having an otherwise perfect attendance record

A 17-year-old student from Wisconsin, Nikita Casap, has been formally charged in connection with the deaths of his mother and stepfather, whose bodies were found in a severely decomposed state inside their home in late February. Casap had reportedly maintained perfect school attendance until the time of the alleged homicides.

He faces multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of hiding a corpse, theft of movable property, theft involving special circumstances, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and two counts of identity theft for financial gain.

Prosecutors allege that Casap shot and killed his parents, Tatiana Casap (center) and Donald Mayer (right), on February 11, before fleeing the scene and leaving their bodies to decompose inside their home

Prosecutors allege that Casap shot and killed his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer, on February 11 before fleeing the scene. The bodies were not discovered until February 28 during a welfare check. According to court documents, Tatiana Casap’s body was found in an advanced state of decomposition, described as "blackened" with dried blood nearby, while Mayer’s body was found in another room, showing a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Authorities stated that Casap had confided in a female classmate prior to the killings, expressing fantasies about murdering his parents and taking his own life. Surveillance footage from the scene reportedly showed a camera trained on Mayer’s body, which had been covered with blankets and pillows. In the footage, Casap is seen entering the room to keep candles lit and, at one point, looking into the camera and saying, “So you can see him there. I can literally see the rotten body there.”

The star student had reportedly maintained perfect school attendance until the double homicide

On February 23, several days after the alleged murders, Casap reportedly fled the home in his parents’ SUV. He traveled through several states, including Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado, before being apprehended on March 1 in northwest Kansas.

Inside the vehicle, officers found a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver on the passenger side floorboard—the same model recently purchased by Mayer. Also recovered were the victims’ driver’s licenses, unused ammunition, and spent shell casings.

Days after the murders, on February 23, Casap is said to have fled the home (pictured), driving his parents' SUV

Further investigation uncovered Telegram messages that appeared to document Casap’s plans to flee the country. In one exchange with a Russian-speaking individual, Casap allegedly asked, “…while in Ukraine, I'll be able to live a normal life? Even when they find out I did it?” Authorities believe Casap had been in contact with a man from Russia who was aware of his plans to escape with his parents’ passports, their car, and the family dog.

During a court appearance, Casap’s bail was set at $1 million. A previously pending auto theft case against him was dismissed.