A Wisconsin teenager who admitted to killing his parents to bankroll a planned assassination attempt on President Donald Trump has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a disturbing case of political extremism and family tragedy to a close.
The sentence was handed down Thursday in Waukesha County Circuit Court, where 18-year-old Nikita Casap had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Prosecutors said the killings were part of a calculated effort to finance a violent plan targeting the current U.S. president.
Judge Ralph Ramirez ordered two life sentences to be served without the chance of extended release, describing the crime as beyond comprehension.
“I choose to find he’s not eligible for extended release because I do not know … when and if and whether a profound and significant change can occur,” Ramirez said in court, adding that he does not have a “crystal ball” to determine whether Casap could ever change.
Authorities said Casap developed an elaborate assassination plan in late 2024. According to prosecutors, he considered several methods for carrying out an attack on Trump, including using an AK-47 rifle mounted to a drone or deploying explosives from a drone device.
District Attorney Lesli Boese told the court that Casap’s motivations evolved as he spent time browsing extremist and violent content online.
Boese explained that the teenager became deeply immersed in “disturbing websites,” where he researched serial killers and school shootings. Investigators believe this online activity contributed to the radical thinking behind his plan.
Casap also told investigators he was prepared for collateral casualties if the plot succeeded.
To move forward with the scheme, Casap attempted to purchase equipment through online contacts. Prosecutors said he transferred $8,700 in bitcoin from his stepfather’s account to someone who claimed they could supply a drone and explosives.
Authorities later determined the seller was a scammer and never had the promised equipment.
Despite that setback, investigators say Casap still intended to continue the assassination plan and had even discussed hiding in Ukraine for years afterward.
Court documents state that Casap shot and killed his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer, on or around Feb. 11, 2025.
Prosecutors said he remained inside the home with their decomposing bodies for weeks before eventually fleeing.
When he left the house, authorities say he took $14,000 in cash, jewelry, his stepfather’s firearm, and several passports.
His cross-country flight ended on Feb. 28, 2025, when law enforcement officers stopped him during a traffic stop in Kansas and took him into custody.
During the sentencing hearing, Casap spoke briefly in court while visibly emotional.
“I thought I was part of a revolution,” he said through tears. “I thought I was part of a war. I told myself bad things had to happen.”
Casap also expressed regret about the loss of his parents, saying he missed his mother and describing Mayer as someone who treated him like a son.
Defense attorney Paul Rifelj had asked the judge to allow the possibility of parole after 20 years. He argued that Casap’s mindset spiraled after learning about a deadly car attack at a Christmas market in Germany in December 2024.
According to Rifelj, the event pushed the teenager toward radical thinking, leading him to believe that targeting a political leader could change the world.
The court ultimately rejected that argument, ruling that the severity of the crimes justified permanent imprisonment.
