CONTENT WARNING: Today’s testimony could include details that are graphic in nature. Viewer discretion is advised.
MILWAUKEE — The homicide trial of Maxwell Anderson enters day 8 in a Milwaukee County courtroom.
Anderson faces four felony charges including 1st degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, arson to property other than a building, and hiding a corpse in the death and dismemberment of 19-year-old Sade Robinson.
9:15 a.m. – Anderson’s former girlfriend takes the stand and testifies about a secret beach Anderson used to take her to. The “beach” whose name he would not tell her “in case they ever separated” was Warnimont Park.
9:23 a.m. – The prosecution and defense have a sidebar debate about how much of Anderson’s emotional abuse the state is allowed to ask about in rebuttal to a defense question about physical abuse.
It is ruled that the State to ask about a specific instance in which Anderson was in a fight with his ex-girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. The Defense countered that the ex-boyfriend instigated the fight.
9:39 a.m. – Detective John Guillot testified that when he had Anderson’s ex-girlfriend lead him to the secret beach, she led him to the spot on the beach at Warnimont Park where Sade Robinson’s remains were found.
9:47 a.m. – Detective Kohlhapp testifies about texts exchanged setting up the date between Robinson and Anderson.
Anderson and Robinson set up a date over text.
Anderson texted Robinson a little after 10:30 a.m. on April 2 and said “good morning” and asked how work was. This was after Robinson’s car was found burned.
April 1 was the last day Robinson ever sent any texts.
On Anderson’s phone, they also found “modified” photos of the last clothing Robinson was seen wearing, specifically her tan underwear and light-wash ripped jeans. There was also a screenshotted graphic found titled “what not to mix with bleach.”
They found photos of Robinson exposed, face down on Anderson’s couch. The breast that is exposed in the photo is the one that was missing from her torso.
The courtroom is distraught, and many are leaving the room in tears. Both of Robinson’s parents have left the room at this point.
Screenshots of articles regarding authorities finding Robinson’s leg and from her social media were also recovered.
11 a.m. – Court is back in session.
Special Agent Jason Ruff testified that between 12:05-12:08 a.m., the phone analysis found Anderson’s phone accessed the photo gallery. The user went on to delete the exposed photos of Sade Robinson at around 12:06 a.m. on April 2, 2024.
The user of the phone was then seen to have altered the network configuration settings on the phone at 12:08 a.m.
Anderson’s phone was not used from 12:08 a.m. until 8:59 a.m. on April 2.
The phone died at 1:35 a.m. and did not fully turn back on until 9:20 a.m.
On April 2 and 3, the phone logged interaction with photos from Sade Robinson’s Instagram.
The analysis also looked at Anderson’s computer.
Anderson was also seen to have watched an animated horror show called “Love, Death, and Robots” on Netflix until 12:23 a.m. on his computer on April 2. The last time a user interacted with Anderson’s computer that night was 12:28 a.m.
1:40 p.m. – Court resumes
Special Agent Jason Ruff returns to the stand for cross-examination.
The defense emphasized that Anderson did not search for anything specifically related to hiding, disposing, or dismembering a body.
1:56 p.m.- State calls final witness.
Dr. Jordan Karsten, an anthropologist and professor at UW-Oshkosh, takes the stand.
He testified that many of Sade Robinson’s bones had cut marks, and most of them showed signs of some form of blunt force trauma.
The knife would not have been serrated.
2:24 p.m. – Cross-examination of Dr. Jordan Karsten.
2:30 p.m. – The State has no more witnesses. The State rests.
2:36 p.m.- The Defense argues that charging Anderson with both “hiding a corpse” and “mutilating a corpse” are duplicitous. The Judge ruled that both charges are valid.
The Judge is summarizing the case.
The State and Defense both rest. The Defense is not calling any witnesses.
2:46 p.m. – Maxwell Anderson has waived the right to testify.
2:54 p.m. – A break
3:06 p.m.- Closing arguments begin
