Milwaukee Bartender Maxwell Anderson Charged in Severed Leg Case

Milwaukee bartender Maxwell Anderson now stands accused of the murder and dismemberment of college student Sade Robinson, and authorities believe a severed leg found in a park likely belongs to Robinson.

Heavy was the first news outlet to report Anderson’s name based on information from three law enforcement sources. On April 9, Anderson appeared in a Milwaukee County courtroom, where a court commissioner allowed authorities an extra 72 hours to hold him in custody. He has now been criminally charged. On April 12, he was criminally charged with first-degree intentional homicide and mutilating a corpse, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department.

You can read the criminal complaint here. It says that Anderson and Robinson went on a “first date” to a local restaurant, hung out at a popular bar, and then police traced her Life360 app movements and cell phone to the area of Anderson’s house. It also said he was captured on video on a Milwaukee bus near the scene where her car was found ablaze, and a witness pinpointed him as the arsonist. The complaint also says blood was found in his house.

The Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that authorities believe Robinson had dinner with Anderson on the night before her remains were discovered. You can read more about the charges here.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, homicide unit prosecutor Ian Vance-Curzan asked the court commissioner for more time to make a charging decision; the newspaper reported, according to a probable cause statement, blood was found in a stairwell of Anderson’s south side home and “on a comforter.”

“There’s been additional evidence recovered by way namely of blood evidence,” Vance-Curzan said in court, the Journal Sentinel reported.

VINE Link, a national victim notification service, confirms that he was taken into custody on April 4 and placed in the Milwaukee County Jail, although the jail’s inmate search does not list him for unclear reasons.

On Facebook, Anderson describes himself as a bartender at the Rave/Eagles Club, although a friend and others on social media say he was working more recently at Victor’s Nightclub, where many people appear to remember him from. Maxwell Steven Anderson is 33, according to jail records. He is also known as Maxwell S. Anderson and Max Anderson.

The family has ties to Waukesha County; Anderson’s father runs a major group of insurance agencies in multiple states, according to LinkedIn. An old address for Maxwell Anderson in court records lists to an Oconomowoc lake home with an estimated value of nearly $3 million, per Zillow.

The news of the person of interest’s arrest came as WISN-TV reported that a second “possible body part” was found on April 5 “in the city’s Walnut Hill neighborhood” near North 30th Street and West Lisbon Avenue. Then, according to Fox 6, “a few blocks away, near 31st and Galena, police said human remains were found.” That marks three times in just a few days that body parts were found strewn throughout the Milwaukee area.

According to WISN, the area of 30th and Lisbon “is where a car belonging to missing 19-year-old Sade Carleena Robinson was found torched” on April 2. That comes just three days after the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the severed human leg was discovered at Warnimont Park. It’s not yet clear whether the discoveries are related or whether Robinson’s missing person’s case is tied to the discoveries. Family members told Fox 6 they found Robinson’s “blanket – which has a picture of her face on it – in a wooded area near the park,” 31st and Galena Playground.

Robinson, 19, is a criminal justice student from Milwaukee who disappeared on April 1, according to a missing person’s alert from Milwaukee police. People are sharing #JusticeforSade on Facebook.

Robinson’s relatives were in court for Anderson’s hearing on April 9 and met with prosecutors, the Journal Sentinel reported. Authorities have not publicly tied Anderson to Robinson’s disappearance, to be clear.

Milwaukee policeSade Robinson.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Maxwell Anderson Dug a Big Hole in His Backyard That He Said Was an ‘Underground Basement’ Last Year, Said a Close Friend, Who Described Him as Giving Off a ‘Weird Vibe’

According to VINE Link, Maxwell Anderson was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail at 10:52 p.m. on April 4. You can see more photos of Maxwell Anderson here.

According to a man who described himself as a close friend of Anderson’s (which is verified by pictures), he went over to Anderson’s house in roughly June 2023, and, “I saw this massive hole on the side of his house.” He said he told Anderson “you should cover that up” because he was worried Anderson’s dog would fall into it.

“He said he was building this underground basement,” the man told Heavy. He requested that his name not be printed because he is afraid; Heavy knows his identity. He described the hole as “probably 5 foot long by 6 foot deep” and said he saw it with his own eyes. The man scribbled out a diagram for Heavy of where he saw the hole.

Jessica McBrideA man drew this diagram of the Maxwell Anderson property.

He said he didn’t understand why Anderson was building an “underground basement” when he had a “big basement anyway” in his house.

“There’s a gate. You take two steps forward, and it’s on the left side. He was building it on the left side, to the left of a concrete walkway,” the friend said of the hole.

He described Anderson as “very chillish” but added, “He did have an anger management temper thing. Like he would flip out over simple things.”

He believes Anderson no longer worked at the Rave but was bartending at Victor’s Nightclub more recently. “He gives off a weird vibe,” the man said. “You feel uneasy around him. At first, I didn’t like him; I got a creepy weirdo type of vibe.” The Journal Sentinel confirmed with Victor’s that Anderson worked there part-time, quoting the manager as expressing shock and saying that Anderson was a “well-liked” good worker.

MugshotMaxwell Anderson.

He said Anderson was “struggling with sleeping” and also had a hobby shooting air pistols and liked anime. The man said he was shocked by the news. “I started shaking,” he said, but he added, “I couldn’t imagine him going this far.”

Heavy’s sources say Anderson is considered the person of interest in the discovery of the leg, which was found near a pump house at Warnimont Park.

“MCSO can confirm that a human leg was discovered in or near the water today at Warnimont Park, east of the golf course by the pump house,” the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department’s spokesman wrote previously in an email to Heavy. “Cudahy Police were initially notified and in turn notified the Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation.”

James Burnett, the spokesman for the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department, wrote in an email to Heavy that, just before 5:30 p.m. on April 2, the Milwaukee County Dispatch (911 call) Center “was notified about the discovery of a leg in/near the water at Warnimont Park, east of the golf course by the pump house.”

Cudahy Police “were initially notified and in turn notified the Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation,” he wrote. “Again, the leg was confirmed to be human. And, as the investigation continues and gains steam, I can clarify to you that the limb was discovered by an individual patronizing the park – walking, etc.”

“At this time, the aftermath of this discovery is categorized as a death investigation, albeit suspicious,” Burnett wrote, when asked whether the leg is being investigated as a homicide.” However, in an April 6 update, the Sheriff’s Department wrote that the leg discovery is now being investigated as a homicide.

In a statement posted to their Facebook page, Cudahy police wrote, “Cudahy police responded to a call on Tuesday, April 2 of a report of a severed leg near Lake Michigan in Warnimont Park. Cudahy Police notified the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, who responded to the scene. Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation and Cudahy police will assist the sheriff’s office with their investigation, as needed. If anyone has any information regarding this investigation please contact with Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office at 414-278-4788.”

2. Maxwell Anderson’s Attorney Said He Was Being Held Because He ‘Supposedly Had Contact With a Missing Person’

VINE LinkMaxwell Anderson booking information.

Anderson’s attorney Tony Cotton appeared in court with his parents, the Journal Sentinel reported, adding that Cotton asked for Anderson’s release on the basis that he has strong community ties, full-time employment, and would appear back in court.

“He’s been arrested now and held for going on over four days… on nothing more than a written submission to the court indicating that because he supposedly had contact with a missing person and there’s some cell tower suspicion that he continues to remain detained,” Cotton said, according to the Journal Sentinel.

On April 5, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Department revealed that a person of interest was taken into custody but did not name him.

“On Thursday, April 4, after securing a search warrant, MCSO detectives and deputy sheriffs converged on a residence on Milwaukee’s south side, in the area of S. 39th Street and W. Oklahoma Ave., and took a person of interest into custody for questioning,” the release said.

Sheriff’s officials did not reveal what led them to the house or person of interest. Authorities also have not released a victim’s name.

WTMJ-TV reported that police raided the person of interest’s home (but did not name him), quoting a neighbor as saying, “I saw a lot of people go in and out of the house, bringing out bags of things.” According to WTMJ, the person of interest is the homeowner.

On Facebook, Anderson posted about purchasing the home and renting out part of it.

3. Maxwell Anderson, Who Has Worked as a Bartender & for His Father’s Insurance Enterprise, Wrote That He Was Previously in the U.S. Navy

On Facebook, Anderson also wrote that he was a “Former Aviation Electronics Technician in United States Navy.”

A listing for his father’s insurance agency enterprise lists Maxwell Anderson as having worked there as a manager in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

Anderson’s father Steven Anderson is president of a major insurance agency company firm. “Insurance Associates of America currently has over 190 members in 32 states writing business in 49 states,” his LinkedIn page says.

People have filled the comment thread of the Waukesha County Crime and Community Information Facebook page with information about Anderson since Heavy’s story was shared there. “He graduated from Pewaukee high school. He was in my brothers grade and was definitely in the circle of friends I had which is creepy and just shocking,” wrote one woman. Another woman wrote, “I hung out with him in high-school and briefly dated him. He was definitely different, and I can attest to the anger issues being true as well.”

His Facebook page describes him as single. His top visible post was from April 4, at 10:05 a.m., when he shared a post about volunteering for Feeding America on April 8 and wrote, “Anyone want to join me?”

On March 2, he wrote, “Anyone have a recommendation for sleeping medication?”

He also posted a picture of his basement, his dogs, out with friends, and occasionally weighed in on politics.

On November 18, he shared a graphic that read, “Every single person who confuses correlation and causation ends up dying.” In September, he wrote, with a spelling error, “They cant seriously be giving us Biden vs Trump again. 😒Neither should be eligable.”

In February 2023, he wrote, “I want an open bar at my funeral.” In January 2023, he opined, “Ah, good ol’ January rains. No climate change here 👀” In 2019, he wrote that he was in a relationship. In 2016, he wrote, “Who will I be kissing on new years? The floor, when I pass tf out.”

4. Maxwell Anderson Has a Domestic Abuse History in the Wisconsin Court System

Anderson has a criminal history in Wisconsin. According to online court records, he was convicted of second offense drunk driving in 2022.

In 2019, he was convicted of disorderly conduct. He was convicted in Door County of disorderly conduct – domestic abuse, criminal damage to property, and intimidating a witness in 2015.

In 2014, he was convicted of disorderly conduct in Waukesha County, court records show. The case was charged as disorderly conduct – domestic abuse, but it was pleaded down to disorderly conduct without the modifier.

The state Department of Corrections website says Anderson is no longer under state supervision.

According to the Journal Sentinel, in one instance, Anderson was accused of shoving a woman, smashing a cellphone and breaking things in the kitchen.

In the Door County case, the newspaper reported that Anderson was accused after a “relative suggested he seek out mental health treatment and Anderson smashed a glass, punched a hole in a wall and grabbed a phone out of the hand of another relative who was trying to call police.”

In the 2019 case, he was accused of beating a stranger, according to the Journal Sentinel.

5. Sade Robinson Is a Criminal Justice Student Who Disappeared on April 1 & Was Planning to Join the Air Force

Milwaukee policeSade Robinson.

Sade Robinson’s Facebook page says she went to Ida S. Baker High School, studies at Milwaukee Area Technical College, went to Riverside High School, and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is from Vicksburg, Mississippi, according to her Facebook page.

Her mother, Sheena Scarbrough wrote on Facebook, “I’m gonna Haunt this Sick muthaf***** in his sleep and dreams and In hell…👁️👁️when I’m done. Whomever hurt my Baby!!🫡🫡😳🥲🥲, Sade keep talking to Us Baby. 💫💫💫 They will Be Dealt with.”

On April 5, she wrote, “Keep Sharing our stories daily. Bring my daughter home❤️❤️”

Scarbrough told WISN that her daughter texted her the afternoon of April 1, and asked for $15, which was “very unusual.” Robinson was studying criminal justice at Milwaukee Area Technical College and planning to join the U.S. Air Force, WISN reported. According to WISN, Robinson did not show up for her job at Pizza Shuttle. The family told WISN that her burned car was found about two miles from her home.

“It was catching on fire, and all of a sudden, it was getting bigger, so I called the fire department. Then you could hear the alarm going off in the car, and the airbags exploding,” said Patricia Newton-Powell to WISN.

Milwaukee police have released a “critical missing” alert for Sade Robinson.

The alert says police are “asking for the public’s assistance in locating a critically missing person, Sade Carleena Robinson.

Robinson was “last seen in the area of 1800 N. Commerce St., on Monday, April 1st, 2024,” the police alert says. “Sade is 19-years-old and is approximately 5’00”, 135 pounds, with back hair, and brown eyes. Sade was last seen wearing a black coat, a white-hooded sweatshirt, blue jean pants , and white shoes.”

People with information are asked to call Milwaukee Police District 5 at 414-935-7252.

A woman wrote on Facebook, “finding my cousin blanket out there today was so heart breaking 💔💔 cause how did y’all miss ts yesterday !!!!! HOW !!???? Sade Robinson I love you & im not stopping 🙏🏽🙏🏽”

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