MILWAUKEE — New evidence revealed in court Wednesday shows Sade Robinson's DNA was found inside Maxwell Anderson's home and on his clothing. Surveillance video also uncovered that the two had met days before her murder.
As the trial of Maxwell Anderson continues, we're learning more about the evidence connecting him to the murder and dismemberment of 19-year-old Sade Robinson. Community members have been closely following this case, and Wednesday's revelations brought audible gasps from those in the courtroom.
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Court updates from Wednesday, June 4
The state called multiple detectives to testify about additional surveillance video from the night and morning after Robinson was killed.
In court, dozens of surveillance videos were shown from city pole cameras that captured Robinson's car leaving Maxwell Anderson's house early in the morning on April 2. Several detectives from both the sheriff's office and the police department detailed the video they pulled from cameras across the city.
From those cameras, detectives tracked Robinson’s Honda Civic driving from Anderson's home to the outside of her apartment, then to Milwaukee's north side. Video from highway surveillance cameras also showed the car driving toward Warnimont Park — and then, hours later, back north away from it.
Watch: Surveillance video takes focus on Day 7 in Sade Robinson murder trial
Throughout Wednesday morning, the state repeatedly asked witnesses to describe the windows of the car as it appeared on camera. All of them said the windows were foggy.
The defense continues to argue that it's not possible to tell who was driving Robinson's car.
Anderson and Robinson seen together on March 29
In a significant development, the court viewed surveillance video showing that Robinson and Anderson had met before their April 1 dinner date, which was previously thought to be their first encounter.
A sheriff's deputy testified that while investigating Anderson's previous workplace, the now-closed Victor's bar in downtown Milwaukee, they discovered video from March 29 — three days before Robinson's murder. The footage shows Robinson and Anderson leaving the bar together with what appeared to be friendly body language.
The revelations captivated the courtroom, with jurors leaning forward intently during testimony. TMJ4 continues to follow this case closely as we work to understand how these new pieces of evidence fit into the prosecution's timeline.
Robinson's DNA found inside Anderson's home and on the sweatshirt found in trash can
Sharon Polakowski, a DNA analyst from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab testified that DNA from Robinson, Anderson and two unknown individuals was found on a plaid jacket inside Anderson's home.
"Of the items that were submitted, there was only one, the plaid jacket from the living room, that could be associated with Sade Robinson," she said of the items found inside Maxwell's home.
When asked specifically about DNA found on the jacket's zipper pull, Polakowski confirmed: "That is a single source female profile that is consistent with the standard from Sade Robinson."
Watch: Local attorney provides legal analysis of Maxwell Anderson trial
In addition to the plaid jacket, Robinson's DNA was also found on a dark zip-up hoodie that Anderson was seen wearing on county transit bus surveillance footage. Prosecutors say this is the same hoodie Anderson wore after allegedly setting Robinson's car on fire, and the same one detectives later found in a trash can two doors down from Anderson's home.
It was also determined that bloody gloves found at the bear near Warnimont Park did not have either Robinson's or Anderson's DNA on them.
Polakowski noted during cross-examination that she cannot determine how DNA is transferred to an object.
"If I have someone who sits on my couch and then they leave and I through my jacket on the couch, their DNA could be found on my jacket?" the defense asked.
Polakowski said it depends on many factors. But she agreed that it is possible.
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