Wisconsin Man Convicted of Murdering Date
A Wisconsin man has been found guilty of killing and mutilating Sade Robinson during their first date, an event that mirrors a chilling scene from a Netflix documentary he recently watched.
Maxwell Anderson, 34, faced Judge Meirona Clyvelo after the jury reached a verdict in just an hour on Friday afternoon. Robinson, a criminal justice student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, had gone out for dinner with Anderson on April 1, 2024.
Her excitement for the evening turned to tragedy when she didn’t return home. Robinson was reported missing the next day after failing to show up for her shift at a pizzeria. Police conducted welfare checks on April 3, but found no sign of her.
On the same day the police visited Robinson’s home, her dismembered legs were discovered on the shore of Lake Michigan.
Prosecutors successfully presented graphic evidence, including disturbing photos saved on Anderson’s phone, which included a deleted image that showed him holding what was referred to as his “trophy”—a piece of Robinson’s body.
Judge Melissa Lascoe commented on the severity of the evidence, saying, “These photos have been on my mind for quite some time.”
In addition to the legs identified through DNA testing, other body parts were recovered scattered throughout the city. Some parts, like her right breast, remain missing.
Evidence suggested that Anderson and Robinson had been watching Netflix’s animated series “Love, Death & Robots” the night of the crime. The finale of the second season features a scene where a body disintegrates on a beach, drawing unsettling parallels to Robinson’s fate. “That was awful because it might have been where he got some of his ideas,” Lascoe noted.
After Anderson’s arrest, police discovered a sort of “sex dungeon” in his basement, equipped with restraints and other disturbing items. Photos found on his phone depicted intrusions into the lives of college students, including images of Anderson and Robinson together.
The prosecutor detailed how the shocking evidence left many shaken, saying, “I felt physically ill at that point.” Some images showed Anderson inappropriately touching Robinson while she was incapacitated.
Prosecutors argued that these images were pivotal in establishing Anderson’s guilt, highlighting that Robinson was physically positioned within his residence at the time of the murder.
Following the horrific act, Anderson drove Robinson’s car around Milwaukee before parking it in North Milwaukee and setting it on fire. “He was probably in panic,” the prosecutor suggested.
During the deliberations, the jury focused heavily on the nature of the crime. Ultimately, Anderson was found guilty of first-degree intentional murder, body mutilation, and arson.
Robinson’s family mourned her loss in court, with her mother describing her as an “angel” and vowing to continue seeking justice. “We are fighters,” she expressed outside the courthouse.
Facing a mandatory life sentence, Anderson’s sentencing is scheduled for August 15. The judge, Laura Clevello, can also impose additional extended supervision.
It appears that Anderson had been planning Robinson’s murder for months, creating a space covered in plastic to carry out his intentions. However, the underlying motive for the crime remains unclear.
