MILWAUKEE — Maxwell Anderson will spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole for the murder of Sade Robinson, a judge ruled Friday. The sentencing comes after a jury found Anderson guilty of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating and hiding a corpse, and arson in June.
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"You stole a truly shining light, is what it sounds like," the judge told Anderson during the sentencing.
In an emotional courtroom scene, Robinson's mother addressed Anderson directly, pleading for information about her daughter's remains.
"I'm going to respectfully request that you confess where the rest of my daughter's crown is, if you have any respect left for me and her father and her sister. And the rest of my family and this community. You've already done the worst. You could at least give us that much," said Sheena Scarbrough, Robinson's mother.
Watch: Maxwell Anderson sentenced to life in prison for homicide of Sade Robinson
Carlos Robinson, Sade's father, also spoke during the hearing.
"He deserves the punishment that he gave to my daughter. Everything that he did should be done to him. That's how I feel," Robinson said.
Prosecutors described the crime as "the most heinous" the court would ever see. The murder occurred on April 1, 2024, when Robinson met Anderson for a date at several Milwaukee bars. Cellphone data tracked the pair to Anderson's home, where he took a photo of her incapacitated.
Anderson then killed Robinson, dismembered her body and scattered her remains. He also set her car on fire. In the days following, Robinson's remains were discovered in parks across Milwaukee County and as far away as northern Illinois. Her head has still not been found.
When given the opportunity to speak, Anderson offered condolences but refused to accept responsibility for the crime.
"I took this to trial without ever once trying to make a plea deal of any kind because I did not commit these crimes. And so I plan to appeal my convictions. While I hope and pray that further investigations not only prove my innocence but find and deliver true justice," Anderson said.
“I don’t think you’re remorseful in any way,” Judge Laura Crivello said.
“I’m not surprised by what the judge did," Anderson's attorney Anthony Cotton said after the decision.
Following the sentencing, Robinson's family held a news conference surrounded by supporters who applauded the judge's ruling that Anderson will never be released from prison.
“I will acknowledge that we’re very grateful and blessed that we are able to be at this point and have the justice for our daughter,” Scarbrough said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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