Federal authorities allege that a 17-year-old Wisconsin teenager murdered his parents in February as part of a plot to finance and execute an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and overthrow the U.S. government. Newly unsealed court documents reveal that the suspect, Nikita Casap, had drafted a manifesto calling for Trump's death and communicated with others about his plans, which investigators say included acquiring weapons, building explosives, and fleeing to Ukraine.
Casap is currently being held in Waukesha County Jail on $1 million bond. He faces nine state felony charges, including two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of hiding a corpse, and additional counts related to theft and identity fraud. Federal authorities are pursuing separate charges of attempted presidential assassination, conspiracy, and use of weapons of mass destruction, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed Friday.
Prosecutors allege that Casap shot his mother, Tatiana Casap, at least three times-twice in the abdomen and once in the neck-and fatally shot his stepfather, Donald Mayer, in the back of the head on February 11. According to the Waukesha County complaint, Casap continued to live in the family home with the bodies until February 23. The remains were discovered five days later following a welfare check requested by Mayer's mother, who had not heard from her son in weeks.
When deputies arrived at the Waukesha home, Casap was missing, along with Mayer's Volkswagen Atlas. That same evening, police in WaKeeney, Kansas-approximately 800 miles away-pulled Casap over for a traffic violation. Inside the vehicle, officers found $14,000 in cash, over $14,000 in jewelry, Mayer's .357 Magnum revolver, passports, and the family dog.
A subsequent search of Casap's phone uncovered photos of Mayer's credit and debit cards, account login credentials, and documents referencing "The Order of Nine Angles," described in the FBI affidavit as a network of individuals with neo-Nazi and racially motivated extremist views. Also found were images of Adolf Hitler, bomb-making instructions, and what investigators described as a three-page manifesto advocating the assassination of the president to spark a revolution and "save the white race."
"By getting rid of the president and perhaps the vice president, that is guaranteed to bring in some chaos," the document read, according to the FBI affidavit. Another page bore the phrase: "HAIL HITLER HAIL THE WHITE RACE HAIL VICTORY."
Investigators also found references to weaponizing a drone, and federal agents allege Casap had purchased-or was in the process of purchasing-explosives to support an attack. The warrant states that Casap shared his plan to flee to Ukraine and asked via Telegram, "So while in Ukraine, I'll be able to live a normal life? Even when it's found out I did it?"
A classmate told investigators that Casap had disclosed plans to kill his parents but initially lacked access to a firearm. Casap later claimed he would befriend someone who owned a gun and steal it, the affidavit said. The classmate also said Casap discussed plans to connect with someone in Russia to help orchestrate an overthrow of the U.S. government.
In court, Assistant District Attorney Lesli Boese said the victims' remains were so decomposed that identification was only possible through dental records. Casap has not entered a plea. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 7 in Waukesha County.
During an earlier court appearance, public defender Nicole Ostrowski moved to dismiss certain charges, including theft, on grounds that prosecutors had not provided sufficient evidence. "He is young, he is still in high school," she said on March 12, highlighting Casap's age.
