Sade Robinson’s Story: A First Date That Ended in Horror

Maxwell Anderson & Sade Robinson

Milwaukee is still grieving.

In March 2024, 19-year-old college student Sade Robinson went on a first date with a man she had just met. That man was Maxwell Anderson, a 33-year-old Navy veteran. The night ended in an unthinkable tragedy. Now, Anderson has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

It was a case so disturbing, even the judge compared it to a horror film.

Sade and Anderson met up for drinks. They visited two bars that evening. Then, surveillance footage showed them arriving at Anderson’s apartment.

That was the last time Sade was seen alive.

What happened next shocked not only Milwaukee but the entire nation. According to prosecutors, Anderson took photos of Sade while she was clearly unconscious on his couch. In some of the images, he was seen groping her.

Later that night, he took her car to a park near Lake Michigan. There, he dismembered her body. He then set the car on fire and took a bus home, acting as if nothing happened.

Police and volunteers began to search for Sade when she didn’t return home. What they found was horrifying. A leg in one park. Another foot and limb near a playground. A torso and arm washed ashore in South Milwaukee.

Her head has never been found.

These disturbing details unfolded in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, leaving the public and courtroom shaken.

In June 2024, Anderson was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide. He was also found guilty of mutilating a corpse and arson. A charge for hiding a corpse was dismissed, though the other crimes were more than enough to guarantee a harsh sentence.

Judge Laura Crivello called his crimes “unconscionable.” She said the case felt like something “out of a horror story.”

Despite pleas from his defense, Anderson received life without the chance of parole. He was also handed 7½ years for mutilation and 18 months for arson.

Sade Robinson’s parents spoke through tears in court.

Her mother, Sheena Scarbrough, said Anderson had “messed up the entire community.” She urged the court to give him no protection in prison.

Her father, Carlos Robinson, was direct: “Everything that he did should be done to him.” His pain was raw. His daughter’s future had been ripped away.

Their words echoed what many in the community were feeling anger, grief, and disbelief.

Anderson’s lawyer asked for parole eligibility after 25 years. He pointed to Anderson’s past Navy service and claimed mental health struggles played a role.

But the judge didn’t accept that argument. She said Anderson was “irredeemable.” His perception of reality, she noted, was deeply warped.

Still, Anderson continued to deny his guilt. He claimed Sade left his apartment that night and was abducted by someone else. At his sentencing, he said, “I hope true justice will be delivered.”

But the evidence told a different story.

Surveillance footage. Phone records. The disturbing photos on his phone. All signs pointed to him.

Sade was full of life. Her friends described her as ambitious, funny, and kind. She was studying, working, and building a future.

Then, in one night, everything changed.

Milwaukee mourns for her. Her story has become a warning about the dangers young women face even in seemingly normal situations like a first date.

It also shines a light on the pain left behind after such violence. The shockwaves from this case touched everyone friends, family, classmates, and strangers alike.

This case wasn’t just about a murder. It was about trust. About how quickly safety can be taken away.

It sparked deeper conversations about dating violence, online safety, and how we protect our daughters, sisters, and friends.

Sade’s family hopes her story will be a catalyst for change. That her life though cruelly cut short will inspire people to speak out, be more vigilant, and push for justice.

Sade’s life mattered.

Her story, though heartbreaking, has brought people together. It has opened eyes. It has stirred anger, yes but also a commitment to make sure this doesn’t happen to someone else.

As her mother said in court, “We are forever changed.”

And Milwaukee will never forget.