Who Is Nikita Casap? US Teen Accused of Killing His Parents to Assassinate Donald Trump​

A 17-year-old high school student is now at the center of a national security case that has shocked both law enforcement and the American public.

Nikita Casap, a Moldovan-born teen living in Wisconsin, is facing charges not only for allegedly murdering his own parents but also for plotting the assassination of President Donald Trump and planning the overthrow of the U.S. government.

Here’s what we know so far about Casap’s background, his alleged crimes, and the terrifying motive behind them.

Read more: Who is Farhad Shakeri? Mastermind of Iran’s Plot to Kill Donald Trump

US teen accused of killing parents as part of plot to assassinate Donald Trump

Who Is Nikita Casap? Early Life, Background, and Education

Nikita Casap was born in 2007 in Moldova, a small Eastern European country. He immigrated to the United States as a child with his mother, Tatiana Casap, in search of better opportunities. They eventually settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin, a quiet suburban town west of Milwaukee.

Tatiana later married Donald Mayer, and the family lived together in a modest home. By all outward appearances, Nikita was a typical American teenager. He attended Waukesha West High School, where he maintained perfect attendance and was known for his quiet demeanor. There was no history of disciplinary issues. Teachers and classmates described him as “intelligent,” “soft-spoken,” and “introverted.”

There is little public information about his biological father or whether he had any siblings. However, law enforcement has confirmed that Nikita was an only child living in a two-parent household at the time of the murders.

The Double Homicide: How It Was Discovered

On February 11, 2025, authorities believe that Casap fatally shot both his mother and stepfather using a firearm he had stolen from Mayer’s collection. The motive, prosecutors allege, was to gain access to money and resources to fund a larger, far more disturbing plan.

Incredibly, Casap lived with the corpses for nearly two weeks, hiding them under blankets and dousing the home in essential oils to mask the odor. During this time, he kept up appearances—submitting school assignments online and texting friends using his parents’ phones.

A welfare check on February 25 finally led police to discover the decomposing bodies. Casap was arrested shortly thereafter, and the grisly details began to unfold.

The Alleged Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump

Authorities said Casap fatally shot parents in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks

What makes this case extraordinary is not just the tragic murder of Casap’s parents—but the alleged motive behind it.

According to FBI affidavits, Casap told investigators that he intended to use the $14,000 he stole from his parents to travel to Florida, purchase weapons and drones, and carry out an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

Agents found a three-page antisemitic and neo-Nazi manifesto on Casap’s computer. In it, he praised Adolf Hitler, called for the destruction of the U.S. government, and outlined a plan to “liberate the people through chaos.” The document described a plot involving drones rigged with explosives, a direct attempt to kill Trump, and a desire to ignite a wider civil conflict.

Casap had also allegedly communicated with a Russian-speaking individual on Telegram, discussing the logistics of escaping to Ukraine following the assassination attempt.

Psychological Profile and Radicalization

FBI experts believe Casap may have been radicalized online. Investigators found evidence of his deep immersion in far-right and accelerationist forums, where users discuss overthrowing governments and engaging in mass violence to bring about societal collapse.

While there is no known prior diagnosis of mental illness, experts suggest that Casap’s profile fits that of a “lone wolf” extremist, someone quietly consuming radical content over time with no outward signs of disturbance.

Neighbors are stunned. “You’d never guess he’d be capable of this. He was just a regular kid,” one said.

Inside the Plot: How Nikita Casap Planned to Kill Donald Trump

Nikita Casap killed his parents and was planning to assassinate Donald Trump

According to investigators, Nikita Casap’s plan to assassinate former President Donald Trump was methodical, ideologically driven, and deeply disturbing. After allegedly murdering his mother and stepfather, Casap’s next move was to secure cash and valuables from the home—estimated to be over $14,000. This money, authorities say, was intended to fund his travel and weapon purchases for a high-profile political assassination.

The FBI uncovered a manifesto on Casap’s devices in which he laid out a three-stage plan. First, he would travel to Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate is located. There, he planned to scout the property’s security layout and find a way to breach it. The document included references to using drones fitted with explosives, though it’s unclear if he had acquired such devices or was still in the planning phase.

Casap reportedly studied past high-profile attacks and downloaded maps and blueprints of presidential residences. His writings also revealed a belief that assassinating Trump would “inspire the collapse of the current U.S. regime” and lead to what he called “a global awakening.”

FBI agents found that Casap had been communicating in encrypted chats on Telegram with at least one Russian-speaking contact, possibly advising him on escape plans. Casap intended to flee to Ukraine following the assassination attempt, where he believed he could disappear amid the ongoing conflict.

Those who knew Casap say the transformation was shocking. A classmate noted he had become more withdrawn in the months before the murders. A teacher recalled him asking questions about drones, surveillance, and “how easy it would be to avoid Secret Service detection.” No one connected the dots until it was too late.

Law enforcement officials say Casap’s case reflects a disturbing rise in youth radicalization via online extremism. “He was a teenager with access to dangerous ideologies and a willingness to act,” one FBI agent said. “That makes him more dangerous than most.”

Legal Status: Charges and Trial Outlook

Casap is currently facing:

• Two counts of first-degree intentional homicide

• Hiding a corpse

• Theft of over $10,000

• Fraudulent use of ID to obtain money

• Federal charges pending related to terrorism and conspiracy to assassinate a U.S. official

He remains in Waukesha County Jail on $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on May 7, 2025. If convicted on all counts, he could face life in prison without parole.

Federal prosecutors are considering seeking adult charges and possibly even trying him under domestic terrorism statutes, which would carry far harsher penalties.

Community and National Response

Waukesha has been left reeling. The town, still recovering from the 2021 Christmas Parade tragedy, is once again in the national spotlight. Parents, teachers, and students are questioning how someone so young and seemingly stable could be driven to commit such violence.

The case has sparked new debates about youth radicalization, the role of online platforms in promoting extremist ideologies, and domestic terrorism prevention strategies.

Conclusion

The story of Nikita Casap is a haunting blend of domestic tragedy and political extremism. A teenager who once walked the halls of a suburban high school now stands accused of plotting the assassination of a former U.S. president.

As the investigation continues and the trial unfolds, America will be forced to confront uncomfortable questions: How did no one see this coming? What role does the internet play in warping young minds? And what must be done to stop the next Nikita Casap?

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