Waukesha County Teen Initial Court Appearance

Nikita Casap made his initial appearance in the Waukesha County court on March 27 for the alleged murders of his mother and step dad and the theft of a vehicle. At the hearing, court officials discussed the potential charges for Casap.  

During the hearing for 17-year-old Casap, there were 10 different counts alleged by the district attorney, including two counts for first degree homicide, two counts for hiding a corpse, and multiple counts for the theft of a motor vehicle. 

The two victims of Casap were his 35-year-old mother Tatiana Casap and his 51-year-old stepdad Donald Mayor, according to the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Forensic analysis shows that the victims had been dead for 17 days before they were found hidden under a pile of clothing and blankets, according to a new criminal complaint. The victims were found after victim A’s mother called for a welfare check on the couple after not hearing from victim A for five days. 

Throughout the hearing, the state argued for a high cash bail at $5 million for Casap. 

“The state does believe he’s an extreme flight risk,” said Prosecuting Attorney Brooke Schultz. “He was found in Kansas with victim A and victim B’s property. So the state is concerned that he’s a flight risk if he is ever released.” 

Attorney Maura McMahon, the defense for Casap, argued for a cash bail at $250,000, believing that the $5 million was far too high for Casap’s case. 

“I think that [amount] is appropriate,” said McMahon. “Obviously it’s not an amount that can be attainable by Mr.Casap.” 

Ralph Ramirez discussed the severity of the crimes committed by Casap and the complexity of setting his bail. Ramirez also took Casap’s age and lack of a previous criminal record into account when issuing the bail. 

“His access to funds, I have no idea what they are,” said Ramirez. “So the reality is that I’m going to grant what the state’s requesting, in terms of a high cash bail but it’s not going to be $5 million. I don’t even know how I’m going to attribute that.” 

Ramirez set the cash bail for Casap at $1 million. Believing that amount to be appropriate for the severity of the crimes committed by the 17-year-old. 

The state said that Casap is “to have no contact with any remaining family members of victim A or B within the United States.”

According to the state, Witness A, who is remaining anonymous throughout the case, claimed that Casap “did threaten to kill [witness A] if she told anyone what he was telling her” 

Ramirez also set a two-mile exclusionary zone around the work, home, and school of witness A. If that zone is violated there will be an immediate warrant issued for Casap’s arrest. 

“The defendant’s school contacted Victim A’s mother and stated he hadn’t been in school for a long time,” according to the criminal complaint. 

According to the new criminal complaint, at the time of Casap’s arrest the gun in his possession matched the bullets used at the scene of the crime. The gun is believed to have been Mayer’s and was taken and used by Casap as the gun was not found at the residence. 

Casap was arrested in Kansas when the Wakeeney Police Department performed a traffic stop on February 28. Casap was found with the firearm used at the scene of the crime and with the family’s dog, according to the criminal complaint. 

The criminal complaint states that Mayer “did not give the defendant permission to operate his VW Atlas, nor did he give consent to remove his Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum.”

Casap is also being charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent, as victim A’s car was missing from the scene of the crime.   

According to a Waukesha County Sheriff Department news release on March 5, “The charges are a result of meticulous investigation efforts emphasizing our dedication to community safety and justice. Members of the community are encouraged to contact the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department with any additional information relevant to this case.”

The preliminary hearing for Casap is scheduled for April 9 at 9:15 a.m. Which will determine if there is enough evidence to charge Casap.