A Milwaukee man was found guilty by a jury on Friday for the horrific crime of killing and dismembering a college student during their initial date. The suspect, named Maxwell Anderson, was charged back in April 2024, facing counts of first-degree intentional homicide, dismemberment of a body, arson, and concealing a corpse in relation to the death of 19-year-old Sade Robinson. He was convicted on all charges.
Authorities suspect that Robinson was murdered by Anderson on April 1, 2024, which coincided with their first meeting. After killing her, he allegedly dismembered her remains and scattered them throughout Milwaukee County to evade detection. In an attempt to destroy further evidence, he purportedly set her car ablaze.
During closing arguments on Thursday, Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan explained to the jury how Anderson and Robinson initially crossed paths at a bar a week prior to her disappearance. On the day of April 1, they reportedly drank at two bars before returning to Anderson’s apartment, as evidenced by surveillance footage as well as cellphone and GPS records.
Vance-Curzan highlighted damning pictures discovered on Anderson’s phone that showed him inappropriately touching Robinson, who seemed unconscious on his couch. The prosecutor emphasized that Robinson was in no condition to resist at that stage.
Further video footage captured her vehicle departing from the apartment early on April 2 and reaching a park by Lake Michigan. It was there in the dark that Anderson is believed to have mutilated her body. Afterwards, under daylight, he allegedly torched her car behind an uninhabited building before taking public transport back to his residence.
Defense attorney Tony Cotton countered during his final statements, arguing there was no concrete evidence to suggest Anderson had premeditated the murder, a crucial factor for sustaining a first-degree intentional homicide charge. Cotton posited that no witnesses overheard a struggle inside the apartment, and Anderson made no attempt to disguise himself when using public transit. He also noted that Anderson’s clothes remained clean despite allegedly dismembering Robinson in a muddy location.
In a brief comment following the jury decision, Cotton expressed respect for the jurors’ commitment acknowledging the challenging nature of the case. Anderson is now awaiting sentencing, scheduled for August 15, where he will likely receive a mandatory life sentence.