Maxwell Anderson trial, Sade Robinson killed: Friday, May 30
Day 4: Surveillance shown at Anderson trial
Testimony during the Maxwell Anderson trial on Friday focused on surveillance video that prosecutors said shows the man throughout the area where Sade Robinson's car was set on fire and near where some of her remains were later found.
MILWAUKEE - Testimony in the trial of Maxwell Anderson, the Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson, zeroed in on the area where her car was torched and remains were found on Friday, May 30.
In Court
What they're saying:
Prosecutors focused on surveillance video that they said shows Maxwell Anderson throughout the area where Sade Robinson's car was set on fire and near where some of her remains were later found.
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Milwaukee Police Det. Casey Donahue, the last person to testify on Thursday, was the first on the stand when court resumed on Friday.
Anderson trial: Attorney analysis of Day 4
Defense Attorney Jonathan LaVoy, who is not associated with the case, discusses the challenges Maxwell Anderson's defense attorney faces with the case, the lack of forensic evidence presented thus far and what he expects the state to present next week.
Donahue walked the jury through surveillance video from the day Robinson's car was torched near 30th and Lisbon. It showed a man, who prosecutors say is Anderson, walking away from the scene of the car fire and toward 31st and Galena, near a playground and railroad tracks.
Video also showed the man who prosecutors said was Anderson getting on a bus near 35th and Lisbon that was headed southbound toward Anderson's home. Prosecutors noted multiple surveillance cameras captured the person, who was wearing the same dark-colored clothing and backpack.
Maxwell Anderson trial: focus on surveillance video
Testimony in the trial of Maxwell Anderson, the Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson, continued with a look at surveillance video including an MCTS bus.
Another camera angle from a different bus showed a person wearing the same clothes walking away from the car fire.
Under cross-examination, Donahue testified that it is a high-crime area. He also said human remains – pieces of flesh, bone with flesh and a foot – were found in a wooded area near the playground days after the car fire.
A string of Milwaukee police detectives followed throughout the day: Det. Jose Flores, Det. Cassandra Lindert, Det. Justin Sokolowski, Det. Michael Braunreiter, Det. Thaddeus Schimmels, Det. Rachel Smith and Det. Scott Schmitz.
MPD Det. Cassandra Lindert shows blanket in court
Milwaukee Police Det. Braunreiter was recalled to testify after Schmitz. Det. Ryan Bergemann followed.
Lindert testified that family members went to the park near 31st and Galena and said they found a blanket that belonged to Robinson. Police found more human remains the next day, including a leg that "appeared to be more cleanly cut at the ankle." A detective said it appeared to be intentionally covered.
Detectives also said the area was hard to search. Illegal dumping is common, and the defense pointed out during cross-examination that the public had access to the area between the two searches that yielded human remains. The defense also noted police initially missed the blanket at the scene.
Maxwell Anderson Trial: Breaking down day 4
FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn joined the news desk to dig deep into what happened on day four of the trial of Maxwell Anderson, accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson. Important parts included surveillance video showing a figure that prosecutors say is Anderson walking away from Sade's burning car, and then Anderson boarding and riding an MCTS bus after that. There was also testimony from two witnesses who saw the dismembered body parts at Warnimont Park.
Angela Sawyer was the first person called to testify on Friday who is not a law enforcement officer. She testified that she found Robinson's body parts on a beach in South Milwaukee.
Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Laura Jaroczynski was the last person on the stand Friday.
Evidence introduced at the end of the day was graphic: a photo of Robinson's torso and arm. It led to a show of emotion from Sheena Scarbrough, Robinson's mother, who walked toward Anderson, called him a "devil," and told him to "burn in (expletive) hell."
Robinson killed, dismembered
The backstory:
Anderson is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse, hiding a corpse and arson of property other than a building. He is accused of killing Robinson after a date, dismembering her and dumping her body parts across Milwaukee County. One of her arms was later found on an Illinois beach.
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Prosecutors said Anderson and Robinson showed up at a Menomonee Valley bar on April 1, 2024 – the night she was last seen or heard from. The next day, Robinson's burned-out car was found near 30th and Lisbon in Milwaukee. Surveillance photos show a man investigators believe is Anderson walking away from the area, and who was later seen on a bus heading back towards his home on the city's south side.
Anderson had planned to kill Robinson weeks before her death, according to a statement from a "confidential informant" noted in court filings FOX6 News obtained. A search warrant also revealed prosecutors believe Anderson tried to cover up Robinson's death with a text message.
Sade Robinson homicide; Timeline of events leading to criminal charges
It's been more than a year since body parts surfaced throughout Milwaukee, which prompted a massive search for a missing teenager, Sade Robinson.
Complete coverage
Dig deeper:
FOX6 News is streaming the entire Anderson trial each day on FOX LOCAL. The app is free to download on your phone, tablet or smart TV.
- Day 3: Law enforcement, friends of Sade Robinson take stand
- Day 2: Opening statements, testimony begins
- Day 1: Jury selected in single day
- Sade Robinson homicide: Timeline of events leading to criminal charges
- Sade Robinson homicide: Parents navigate grief ahead of trial
- Sade Robinson homicide: The psychology behind the murder
- Sade Robinson homicide: Lasting legacy, from tragedy to advocacy
- Open Record: A Date With Death
The Source: FOX6 News was in court for the Anderson trial. Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court, and prior FOX6 coverage of the case.