In a Milwaukee County courtroom, the air was heavy with anticipation as family and friends of Sade Robinson, many wearing shades of pink in her memory, gathered to hear the verdict in the trial of Maxwell Anderson. On Friday, June 6, 2025, after less than an hour of deliberation, a jury delivered a resounding judgment: Anderson, 34, was found guilty on all four felony charges in the brutal killing and dismemberment of 19-year-old Sade Robinson. The charges included first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, arson of property other than a building, and hiding a corpse. For Robinson’s loved ones, the verdict marked a moment of justice in a case that has gripped Milwaukee with its horrific details and profound loss.
The tragedy began on April 1, 2024, when Robinson, a vibrant young woman who worked two jobs and attended Milwaukee Area Technical College, went on a first date with Anderson. Surveillance footage captured the pair at a Menomonee Valley bar, Duke’s on Water, where they appeared together in what would be Robinson’s final public sighting. That night, phone data and video evidence placed Robinson at Anderson’s south side home. She was never seen alive again. The next day, her burned-out Honda Civic was discovered near 30th and Lisbon, its interior deliberately set ablaze with a petroleum-based accelerant. In the days and weeks that followed, Robinson’s severed remains were found scattered across Milwaukee County, from a severed leg in Warnimont Park to her torso and arm along Lake Michigan’s shores, some as far as Illinois.
Prosecutors painted a chilling picture of Anderson’s actions. They presented evidence of a calculated effort to conceal the crime, including surveillance footage showing a figure believed to be Anderson walking away from Robinson’s burning car and boarding a bus back to his home. A disturbing photo showed Robinson incapacitated on Anderson’s couch, and prosecutors detailed a timeline where Anderson allegedly rammed a gate to dispose of her remains. The state argued that Anderson’s intent was clear, supported by physical evidence like bloody gloves found near Robinson’s remains and items in his home, including knives and an axe. A medical examiner testified that Robinson’s body parts showed signs of knife cuts and possible stab wounds, with dismemberment likely occurring after death, pointing to a deliberate attempt to hide the homicide.
The defense, led by attorney Anthony Cotton, argued there was no direct evidence proving Anderson killed Robinson or acted with intent. They highlighted the absence of Robinson’s DNA in blood found in Anderson’s home and questioned the lack of a clear murder weapon or cause of death. Cotton suggested Anderson’s behavior after the incident—continuing work and not fleeing—did not align with guilt. Yet, the jury, composed of nine women and three men, found the prosecution’s case compelling, rejecting the defense’s motion for a directed verdict and deliberating for just 20 minutes on June 5 before resuming and finalizing their decision the next morning.
The trial, which began with jury selection on May 27, 2025, after a delay from its original December date, was an emotional ordeal for Robinson’s family. Her mother, Sheena Scarbrough, displayed raw grief during testimony, at one point confronting Anderson in court. The community rallied around Robinson’s memory, with vigils and a mural in her honor reflecting her impact as a beloved daughter, friend, and student. Anderson, who did not testify, remained stoic as the verdict was read. Judge Laura Crivello ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for August 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. Anderson faces life in prison for the homicide charge alone.
This case has left an indelible mark on Milwaukee, raising questions about safety and justice. For Robinson’s supporters, the guilty verdict offers closure, though it cannot erase the pain of her loss. As the legal process moves toward sentencing, the focus remains on honoring a young woman whose life was cut short in an act of unthinkable violence.
