Maxwell Anderson trial, Sade Robinson killed: Wednesday, May 28
First witnesses testify in Maxwell Anderson trial
Opening statements and testimony in the trial of Maxwell Anderson, the Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson, began on Wednesday, May 28.
MILWAUKEE - Opening statements and testimony in the trial of Maxwell Anderson, the Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson, began on Wednesday, May 28.
In Court
What they're saying:
The entire first day of the trial was spent selecting a jury who will determine whether Anderson is guilty or not guilty of killing Robinson. Twelve jurors and three alternates were ultimately selected from an initial pool of more than 70 people.
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To start Wednesday's proceedings, Judge Laura Crivello read preliminary instructions as to how to understand the facts of the case and the law. The opening statements and the state's case in chief are to follow.
Lead Prosecutor Vance-Curzan's opening statement
Lead Prosecutor Ian Vance-Curzan presented his opening statement on Wednesday. The state accuses Maxwell Anderson of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson.
Defense Attorney Anthony Cotton's opening statement
Defense Attorney Anthony Cotton presented his opening statement on Wednesday. The state accuses Maxwell Anderson of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson.
Lead Prosecutor Ian Vance-Curzan presented the state's opening statement first, followed by Defense Attorney Anthony Cotton.
The state called its first witness just before 10 a.m. Osyrus Terrell testified he found Robinson's severed leg at Warnimont Park in Cudahy more than a year ago.
"We were walking down there and there was a severed leg," Terrell said.
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Attorney Julius Kim of Kim & LaVoy weighs in on the second day of Maxwell Anderson's trial.
Cudahy Police Officer Zach DeSmet, Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Leon Martin and MCSO Detective JoAnn Donner were the next three witnesses on the stand. The law enforcement officers responded to the park the night the leg was found.
"Toenails were painted pink with nail polish, based on size of leg estimated person the leg came from was rather short," Deputy Martin testified.
"We went through there extensively. Didn't find anything else," Det. Donner said.
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Attorney Julius Kim of Kim & LaVoy weighs in on the second day of Maxwell Anderson's trial.
Detective Donner said bad weather was not helping that April day.
The next day, the detective got a call about a missing woman from Milwaukee – Sade Robinson. There were extensive searches in the days that followed. Cadaver dogs, ground penetrating radar, drones, water searches and dive teams. Det. Donner testified that all yielded nothing.
The discovery of the leg at Warnimont Park came about 12 hours after Francis Miller, the now-retired Cudahy Water Utility superintendent, got a call about the gate that leads down to the lake.
"Gates were caved in. Gates were kind of collapsing," Miller said.
On the ground at the scene were car parts.
"Several of them were marked Honda, and the Civic popped up quite a bit," Miller said.
Prosecutors said Robinson was killed at some point after driving to Anderson's home on Milwaukee's south side, following a first date. Her body was dismembered.
Anderson's defense does not dispute the timeline of events from when Robinson was last seen alive. However, Cotton said: "No reason for Maxwell Anderson to commit a crime like this."
Maxwell Anderson trial: First witnesses testify
Opening statements and testimony in the trial of Maxwell Anderson, the Milwaukee man accused of killing and dismembering Sade Robinson, began on Wednesday, May 28.
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 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.