Milwaukee man sentenced to life in prison for killing and dismembering a woman on first date

Sade Robinson, a 19-year-old college student whose brutal death shook the Milwaukee community, was murdered and dismembered after a first date last year. On Friday, her killer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Sade Robinson’s killer Maxwell Anderson sentenced

Maxwell Anderson, 34, was convicted in June of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, arson, and hiding a corpse in connection with Robinson’s death. The Milwaukee Area Technical College student vanished in early April 2024 after meeting Anderson at a bar. Her remains were later found scattered throughout Milwaukee County and northern Illinois, triggering a massive search and outpouring of public grief.

Judge’s statement

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Laura Crivello handed down the maximum sentences on all charges, calling Anderson’s actions “unconscionable” and “horrific beyond measure.” “To not know whether your child is dead or alive—and then learn they’ve been dismembered and disgraced—is unimaginable,” Crivello said.

Sade Robinson’s family statement

Robinson’s family delivered tearful statements demanding justice and closure. Her mother, Sheena Scarbrough, called Anderson a “demon,” while her father, Carlos Robinson, said Anderson “shouldn’t be allowed to live after what he did.”

More about Maxwell Anderson’s case

A U.S. Navy veteran with prior domestic violence charges, Anderson maintained his innocence throughout the trial and vowed to appeal. His legal team cited mental health challenges in arguing for parole eligibility, but the judge rejected those claims.

Parts of Robinson’s body, including her head and torso, were never recovered. Her family received a posthumous associate’s degree in her honor last year.

A restitution hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4.