Maxwell Anderson sentenced to life in prison, no possibility for parole

MILWAUKEE — The 34-year-old man convicted of killing and dismembering 19-year-old Sade Robinson was sentenced Friday.

Maxwell Anderson was given the maximum sentences on all three charges: first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, arson of property other than a building. The homicide charge requires a sentence of life in prison. A previous charge of hiding a corpse was dismissed.

Judge Laura Crivello ruled that Anderson will not be eligible for parole.

The courtroom was a tense scene, with many family members from both Robinson’s and Anderson’s family present. Robinson’s sister, mother, and father all provided victim impact statements to the court.

“My daughter had to cross you demonic path,” said Sheena Scarbrough, Robinson’s mother. “Sade’s justice is just now beginning. And you, and all of your family, will eternally pay for what you did to us.”

Anderson’s father also spoke directly to his son during his impact statement.

“We want you to know that we love you and support your plan for self-improvement,” said Steven Anderson.

Adrianna Reams, sister of slain Sade Robinson, providing her impact statement during the Maxwell Anderson sentencing.

Sheena Scarborough, mother of slain Sade Robinson, providing her impact statement during the Maxwell Anderson sentencing.

Carlos Robinson, father of slain Sade Robinson, provides his impact statement during the Maxwell Anderson sentencing on August 1, 2025.

Steven Anderson, father of Maxwell Anderson, provides his impact statement during the Maxwell Anderson sentencing on August 1, 2025.

Also in the courtroom, almost all members of the jury that handed down the guilty verdict.

Anderson was convicted on June 6, 2025 of killing and dismembering Robinson after a first date in 2024. Robinson, who was a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College, was reported missing on April 3, and then her severed leg along with other body parts were discovered days later near Warnimont Park in Cudahy, near Robinson’s burned out car on Milwaukee’s north side, and along the Lake Michigan shoreline as far as Waukegan, Illinois.

Anderson was arrested on April 4 in connection to Robinson’s death, later being charged with homicide, mutilating and hiding a corpse, and arson of her car. Robinson’s official cause of death was ruled a “homicide by unspecified means“.

The jury made up 9 women and 3 men took less than one hour total after the eight-day trial to return guilty verdicts on all four original counts against Anderson.

Anderson will appear in court for a restitution hearing on September 4 at 10:30 a.m.