Nikita Casap

Little has been publicly released about Nikita Casap's early life. Born in Moldova, he later immigrated to the United States with his mother and eventually settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he lived with his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer.

During his teenage years, investigators found that Casap became increasingly immersed in extremist online content. According to prosecutors, he researched mass killings, political violence and extremist ideologies while communicating with individuals online about plans for a broader violent revolution.

Investigators determined that on or about 11 February 2025, Casap shot and killed his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer, inside the family home in the Village of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Both victims died from gunshot wounds.

Rather than notifying authorities, Casap continued living in the home with their decomposing bodies for nearly two weeks. During that time he stole approximately US$14,000, jewellery, passports, his stepfather's firearm and other valuables before fleeing in Mayer's SUV with the family dog. Investigators later alleged the murders were committed to obtain the money and freedom needed to carry out a planned assassination of President Donald Trump using a drone carrying explosives.

Casap was eventually stopped by police in Kansas on 28 February 2025, ending the interstate investigation. Federal investigators later uncovered writings and electronic communications describing his assassination plot and plans to flee overseas after completing the attack.

Casap murdered both victims inside their family residence using a firearm before remaining at the property with their bodies for an extended period.

Following the killings, he systematically removed cash, valuables, identification documents and weapons before fleeing across the country. Investigators concluded the murders were financially motivated and intended to facilitate a broader politically motivated attack rather than being spontaneous domestic homicides.

After relatives became concerned that the victims had not been seen for several weeks, authorities began investigating their disappearance.

Casap was located during a traffic stop in Kansas while driving his stepfather's vehicle. Inside the SUV, investigators recovered stolen cash, jewellery, passports, firearms and other property belonging to the victims. Subsequent searches of his electronic devices uncovered evidence of extremist writings, online communications and detailed plans for a political assassination using drones and explosives.

Casap was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide along with several additional offences, including theft and concealing corpses.

In January 2026, he pleaded guilty to both homicide charges as part of a plea agreement in which prosecutors dismissed the remaining counts. On 5 March 2026, Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Ralph Ramirez sentenced Casap to two life sentences without the possibility of parole, finding that the brutality of the crimes and the ongoing danger he posed justified permanent imprisonment.

The case attracted international attention because investigators alleged the murders were committed to finance a planned assassination of a sitting U.S. President. Federal investigators stated that Casap had prepared a manifesto outlining his political motivations and had attempted to purchase a drone and explosives using money stolen from his parents. Authorities also alleged he communicated online with foreign contacts about fleeing overseas after carrying out the attack.

The murders of Tatiana Casap and Donald Mayer shocked the Waukesha community not only because of the relationship between the offender and victims, but also because Casap remained in the home with their bodies for nearly two weeks before fleeing. The case is regarded as one of Wisconsin's most disturbing family homicide investigations.