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Fatal First Date

33-year-old Maxwell Anderson met 19-year-old criminal justice student Sadie Robinson in March 2024.

Likely unaware of his history of domestic abuse, drunk driving, and disorderly conduct, she decided to go out with him.

They scheduled a first date for April 1st, 2024, and Robinson told someone at her apartment building she was excited to spend time with Anderson.

They met at the Twisted Fisherman restaurant in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before heading to another establishment nearby called Duke’s on Water.

They hung out there for a few hours, then left just after 9 pm. Just before 9:30, surveillance video showed them entering Anderson’s home.

Robinson’s Honda Civic was found later that morning in Milwaukee, at around 7:30 am, set ablaze.

Later in the day, at around 5:30 pm, a human leg belonging to a black female was found at Warnimont Park.

Throughout the day, no one could reach Robinson, and she failed to show up for her job at a local pizza place.

Just shy of 24 hours after she left Duke’s on Water with Anderson, Robinson’s friend reported her missing.

Investigation

Investigators started connecting the dots quickly, and soon the severed leg was identified as Robinson’s.

Anderson became the prime suspect as he was the last person seen with her. Witness accounts, surveillance video, and phone records also pointed to his involvement.

Surveillance footage recorded around 2:45 a.m. on April 2nd showed a Robinson’s Honda Civic ramming through the gate of Warnimont Park, and somebody taking several trips down to the water.

Anderson was also seen near the Civic when it was set on fire, and he headed back home on a county bus afterward.

Cellphone records showed that Robinson and Anderson’s phones traveled together until just after 4:30 a.m., when her phone’s battery died.

Anderson was pulled over and arrested on April 4th, 2024. Inside his vehicle was clothing similar to what the car arsonist was wearing.

A search of his home turned up a large amount of blood, which was later determined to be from a canine. Inside his place were also several gasoline containers.

He had a dungeon in his basement. Investigators also found graphic photos on his phone of Robinson dead or unconscious, and blood inside his vehicle.

On April 6th, a foot and human flesh turned up. The next day, more body parts were found.

All the evidence pointed to Anderson, and he was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, and arson on April 12th.

He pleaded not guilty and was held in jail on a whopping $5 million bail.

An informant came forward days later, saying Anderson told him in March that he was planning to kill Robinson. The informant also stated that Anderson showed him the basement, which contained several saws and was covered with a plastic tarp.

The case garnered significant media attention in Milwaukee, with a public memorial held for her and a mural painted at Robinson’s workplace.

The circumstances of her death also led her family to sue Anderson for wrongful death.

Her family also sued the bars Robinson and Anderson visited on the night of their first date, alleging that the establishments had served drinks to the teenage Robinson without checking her ID; however, the suit was later dismissed.

Legal Proceedings

Anderson’s trial started on May 27th, 2025, with jury selection. Opening statements and testimony were presented the next day.

The evidence over the next week and a half was overwhelming, and when the jury received the case on June 6th, 2025, they only needed 30 minutes before handing down a guilty verdict.

After sentencing, Anderson spoke to a presentence investigator and told them that Robinson was kidnapped outside his home.

At his sentencing on August 1st, his father spoke of seeing his son get out one day. At sentencing, the family hoped he would reveal where he put Robinson’s head; however, he continued to deny the charges.

The judge spoke last, handing down the harshest sentence possible, life without the possibility of parole.

Even though much of Robinson’s body has been found, her head is still missing.