Suvechha Sarkar
On a quiet spring night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in April 2024, Sade Carleena Robinson suddenly went missing. The 19-year-old college student was a loving daughter and a responsible sister, who had her whole life ahead of her. In the following days, authorities made the devastating discovery of her partial remains, pointing to a homicide. CBS’ ’48 Hours: Sade Robinson and The Secret Beach’ explores the details of the investigation and the timeline leading up to the time she disappeared. It also features interviews with her loved ones and the officials who worked hard to bring the truth to light.
Sade Robinson’s Partial Remains Were Found in Multiple Locations in Wisconsin
Born on May 10, 2004, Sade Carleena Robinson brought immense joy to the lives of her parents, Carlos Robinson and Sheena Scarbrough. She was originally born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and later moved to Milwaukee alongside her family when she was just 2 years old. According to reports, Carlos and Sheena never tied the knot, but they did not let that get in the way of their healthy coparenting. Growing up, Sade was always surrounded by her parents’ unwavering love and support. She also maintained a very close bond with her sister, Adrianna Reams, who considered Sade her role model. Sade’s loved ones often described her as a ray of sunshine and a kind person. She initially studied at Ida S. Baker High School in Florida before attending Riverside High School in Milwaukee.
After graduating from high school, Sade pursued an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). Simultaneously, she embraced an independent lifestyle by working at the Wisconsin Country Club and Pizza Shuttle. Sade was set to graduate with the Associate of Arts degree on May 10, 2024. However, her life turned upside down on April 1, 2024, when she last spoke with her friends and family. Following that, when her loved ones were unable to contact Sade, they called 911 to report her missing on April 2, 2024. On the same day, a local at Warnimont Park along the Lake Michigan shores discovered a severed human leg. When officials arrived at the scene, they noted that the remains were several feet off the ground on soil, indicating they didn’t get there by accident.
On April 2, detectives also discovered her burned car near 30th Street and Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee, near where another severed human leg was found. Reports state that a DNA test ultimately revealed that the remains belonged to Sade. On April 18, 2024, more of her partial remains were uncovered along the Lake Michigan Shore in South Milwaukee. By May 11, another arm was discovered on a beach in Waukegan, Illinois, which was confirmed to be Sade’s through DNA testing. The discovery of her remains at different locations suggested she was dismembered in an attempt to cover up the crime. The autopsy reportedly was unable to determine the cause of her death because crucial parts of her remains were undiscovered. Sade’s manner of death was determined to be a homicide.
Multiple CCTV Footage and Mobile Data Led to the Arrest of Maxwell Anderson
After Sade was reported missing, officials spoke with her friends, who said she was very excited about a first date with a bartender named Maxwell Anderson on April 1, 2024. According to reports, authorities soon discovered footage from her residence showing her leaving for her date on April 1. They also uncovered surveillance footage of Sade and Maxwell drinking in two bars around the late afternoon and early evening, before they went to Maxwell’s home. As per police records, additional footage captured Sade’s vehicle leaving his apartment in the early morning of April 2, before it reached a park along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. Since Maxwell was the last person to see Sade alive, investigators reportedly executed a search warrant at Maxwell’s home.
Court records suggest that the search revealed blood on Maxwell’s walls and bedding. However, forensic experts reportedly found that the blood belonged to a canine, according to reports. Per investigative records, detectives found CCTV footage, which captured a man, whom they believed was Maxwell, walking away from the area where Sade’s car was set on fire. Reports indicate that Maxwell was later captured on a bus as he returned to South Milwaukee. Further cell phone data reportedly revealed that Maxwell sent a text message to Sade after she went missing, which investigators testified was his attempt to conceal the crime. Police records indicate a picture recovered from Maxwell’s mobile showed Sade lying on the couch, further alleging she appeared unresponsive in the image.
Digital forensic experts reportedly determined from Maxwell’s mobile location that he was in the Warnimont Park area at around 2 am and 3 am on April 2, 2024. Court records indicate he had prior convictions — a 2014 conviction on the charge of disorderly conduct and 2015 convictions on domestic violence, criminal damage to property, and intimidating a witness charges. In 2022, Maxwell was reportedly also found guilty of driving with a suspended license. Per official reports, the investigators argued that after killing Sade, Maxwell dismembered her remains before disposing of them. Police records indicate that they believed he then burned her vehicle before returning on a bus. Maxwell was arrested on April 4, 2024, and was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, arson of property other than a building, hiding a corpse, and mutilating a corpse.
Maxwell Anderson is Incarcerated at an Out-of-State Prison Facility Today
Following his arrest, Maxwell pleaded not guilty to all his charges. His jury trial commenced on May 27, 2025, during which the prosecution argued that Maxwell deliberately killed Sade, dismembered her body, and then attempted to conceal evidence by disposing of remains and burning her car. They also presented surveillance video, cell phone data, and forensic testimony before the court. According to court records, the prosecution claimed that Maxwell planned Sade’s murder beforehand. They presented testimony from an informant who alleged he visited Maxwell’s home on March 5, 2024, and claimed Maxwell spoke about harming Sade and dismembering her body.
The prosecution reportedly said that the informant claimed to have seen the walls, ceiling, and floor of Maxwell’s basement covered with a plastic tarp. On the other hand, the defense questioned the credibility and interpretation of this testimony. They claimed that Maxwell was innocent and argued that there was no intent. They contended that the interpretation of digital and circumstantial evidence was not ideal. After deliberation, the jury found him guilty on all four charges on June 6, 2025. However, the charge of hiding a corpse was later dismissed following a defense motion. On August 1, 2025, Maxwell was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Maxwell also received an additional 7 and a half-year term for mutilating a corpse, and 1 and a half years for arson. Shortly after the judgment, he appealed his conviction and sentence. However, as of writing, no public records provide any details about its progress. Maxwell was initially held in custody at a detention center in Milwaukee. Post his sentencing, he was transferred to Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin. As per records, he was eventually transferred to a correctional facility outside Wisconsin on September 17, 2025. It is essential to note that the facility to which Maxwell was moved has not been publicly disclosed.
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