Sade Robinson case: Jury finds Milwaukee man Maxwell Anderson guilty of killing, dismembering 19-year-old woman after trial
Share and Follow

MILWAUKEE — A jury found a Milwaukee man guilty Friday of killing and dismembering a 19-year-old college student on the night of their first date.

Prosecutors charged Maxwell Anderson in April 2024 with first-degree intentional homicide, dismembering a corpse, arson and hiding a corpse in connection with Sade Robinson’s death. The jury convicted Anderson on all four counts.

Investigators believe Anderson killed her on their first date on April 1, 2024, dismembered her body and spread her remains around Milwaukee County. They also believe he burned her car to hide evidence.

Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan told jurors during closing arguments Thursday afternoon that Anderson and Robinson had met at a bar a week before her disappearance. Surveillance video and cellphone text and tracking records show they spent the late afternoon and early evening of April 1 drinking at two bars before going back to Anderson’s apartment.

Vance-Curzan said photos on Anderson’s phone show Anderson groping Robinson as she lay face down on his couch. The prosecutor said Robinson was incapacitated at that point and could not have resisted.

Surveillance video shows her car leaving the apartment early on the morning of April 2 and arriving at a county park along the shores of Lake Michigan. There, under the cover of darkness, he cut her body into pieces, Vance-Curzan said. Later that morning, he burned her car behind an abandoned building before taking a bus back to his apartment, Vance-Curzan said.

One of Robinson’s arms was found on a Waukegan beach, as well.

Anderson’s attorney, Tony Cotton, said during his closing arguments that prosecutors failed to show Anderson ever intended to kill Robinson, a key element in the first-degree intentional homicide charge. Cotton also argued that nobody heard a struggle in his apartment. Anderson never tried to conceal his identity when he boarded the bus and his clothes and shoes were clean then even though he had been supposedly dismembering a body in a muddy park, Cotton added.

Asked to comment on the verdicts, Cotton said in an email to The Associated Press on Friday that he’s sure it was a difficult case for jurors and he respected their time and attention.

Anderson faces a mandatory life sentence in prison when he’s sentenced Aug. 15.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Dick Cheney, former US Vice President, dies aged 84, family announces

Former Vice President Dick Cheney Passes Away at 84, Family Confirms

Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, a prominent advocate for the Iraq…
Ohio news: 9 injured in Bath Township shooting at birthday party held at large Airbnb include children, adults

Tragic Shooting at Ohio Birthday Party: 9 Injured at Bath Township Airbnb Event

The serene community of Bath Township, Ohio, was abruptly shattered when gunfire…
Belgium suspects drones flying over base reported to host US nuclear weapons were 'spying'

Belgium Investigates Suspicious Drone Activity Over U.S. Nuclear Weapon Base Amid Espionage Concerns

In a concerning development, Belgium’s Defense Minister has raised alarms about a…
Sir David Beckham receives knighthood from King Charles — and Victoria has a new name, too

Sir David Beckham Honored with Knighthood by King Charles as Victoria Embraces New Title

Meet Sir David Beckham, the newly knighted icon. The legendary footballer, now…
DoorDasher's car used in Jacksonville police chase after being stolen mid-delivery, driver says

Stolen Car Sparks Police Chase in Jacksonville During DoorDash Delivery, Driver Reports

A Jacksonville resident found himself at the center of an unexpected criminal…
Inside Justin Bieber's ultra-exclusive basketball league

Justin Bieber Launches Secretive Celebrity Basketball League: Inside the Star-Studded Hoops Haven

Despite his widespread international recognition, Justin Bieber manages to keep his personal…
'I've had a good life' | She still bakes and exercises — even as she celebrates her 100th birthday

Centenarian Celebrates 100th Birthday with Active Lifestyle: Baking and Exercise Keep Her Vibrant

“My life has been fulfilling,” Delema Eldridge reflected, contemplating her century-long journey.…
Republicans reveal plot to block 'insurrectionist' Mamdani

Republicans Strategize to Halt Mamdani’s Candidacy Over ‘Insurrectionist’ Claims: A Political Showdown Unfolds

The Republican Party has devised a last-minute strategy to prevent Zohran Mamdani…