19-year-old found dead after first date; suspect due in court: What to know about Sade Robinson case
The man suspected in the killing of Sade Robinson is set to appear again in court after officials say he went on a date with the Wisconsin teen the day before her remains were found.
Maxwell Anderson, 33, was arrested on April 4 at a traffic stop and charged with the in the death of Robinson, 19, after police received a report of a severed leg located near a golf course in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The leg was discovered April 2, the day after Anderson met with Robinson.
Robinson was reported missing on April 2. When the teenager, who had a date with Anderson the night before at a Milwaukee seafood restaurant he used to work at, didn't show up for her shift at a pizza restaurant, her coworkers suspected something was wrong.
Now, the man she went on a date with is charged with the following:
- first-degree intentional homicide
- mutilating a corpse
- arson of property other than a building
Previously in the Sade Robinson case:Milwaukee man Maxwell Anderson charged after human remains found
What happened in Robinson's death?
Anderson, 33, and Robinson went on a first date in Milwaukee on April 1, according to prosecutors.
He took her to a seafood restaurant after she texted him that she felt like eating seafood, reports 6ABC, citing a criminal complaint.
After a night out, Robinson went back to Anderson's home, prosecutors said.
The next day, authorities found a severed human leg at Warnimont Park in Cudahy, which has now been identified as belonging to Robinson, according to prosecutors.
The case received extensive publicity as additional human remains were found in Milwaukee in the days since.
Anderson's court date
Anderson is scheduled to return to court for his preliminary hearing on April 22 at 1:30 p.m. at the Milwaukee County Courthouse Criminal Justice Facility, where Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan will be expected to provide probable cause that Anderson committed a felony. Anderson's defense attorney, Anthony Cotton, will be able to cross-examine witnesses the state provides.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Jean Kies will decide if there's probable cause. If she believes there is, then Anderson will stand trial then the case will move to an arraignment hearing where Anderson would plea guilty or innocent.
How did prosecutors build a case against Anderson?
The prosecution used surveillance footage, witness statements and phone tracking records to build a case against Anderson. Officials with the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and Milwaukee Police Department said last week that the investigation and search for more body parts is ongoing.
A week after his arrest, Anderson was charged with first-degree intentional homicide (which carries a life sentence), mutilating a corpse and arson.
Who is Sade Robinson?
In May, Robinson would've turned 20 and graduated from Milwaukee Area Technical College with an associate degree in criminal justice, her mother Sheena Scarbrough told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Her mother said Robinson dreamed of joining the U.S. Air Force and that she loved to take solo trips. This year she went to Jamaica, but traveled to New Orleans, Atlanta and other places as well.
But for the time being, she was a favorite among coworkers and customers at the local pizza place she worked at, said her manager.
Her manager, Justin Romano, told local media outlet 6ABC she was "very outgoing, she would talk to everybody here. She was always there to lighten the mood."
'I didn't know that was going to be the last day I saw my baby'
Scarbrough, spent the Easter evening with her daughter and the rest of the family. That was the last day she saw her in person.
The next day, Robinson videocalled her mother to talk about the rest of her night and how she planned to style her hair.
"She looked as beautiful, glowing as she always is," said Scarbrough.
Scarbrough said her daughter was still figuring things out, but was always willing to help others.
"Her whole life was so ahead of her, she was so, so amazing. So beautiful, such a beautiful angel. Everywhere she went, people just admired my baby," Scarbrough said.
Scarbrough urges anyone with information to share it. Police asked anyone with information to call 414-935-7252.
Contributing: David Clarey, Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY