The defense team representing Maxwell Anderson, the 33-year-old white man accused of murdering and dismembering 19-year-old Sade Robinson, has introduced a controversial line of argument in court: alleging the young Black woman may have been involved in drug activity.
Anderson is on trial for the brutal April 2024 killing that shocked the Milwaukee community and drew national attention. Robinson’s dismembered remains were discovered in multiple locations across Milwaukee County after she was last seen going on a date with Anderson.
Now, as the trial unfolds in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Anderson’s defense attorney, Anthony Cotton, has introduced evidence recovered from Robinson’s apartment — a locked pink safe containing marijuana, $888 in cash, and 47 pills believed to be methamphetamine.
Cotton claims these items suggest Robinson may have had ties to criminal elements, thereby opening the door for “alternative suspects” who could have had a motive to harm her. “We are attempting to present an alternative theory as to what may have happened to her,” Cotton told the court.
The prosecution, however, strongly pushed back. Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan reminded the court that toxicology reports showed only caffeine in Robinson’s system at the time of death — no drugs or alcohol were present. He also noted that the pills found in her apartment were never tested by the state crime lab, raising questions about their actual composition.
Despite Cotton’s argument, prosecutors assert there is overwhelming evidence tying Anderson to the killing. They argue that Anderson was the last person seen with Robinson on April 1, the night she vanished after meeting him for a date. Surveillance footage, cell phone tracking data, and the discovery of Robinson’s torched car all support the prosecution’s case.
Furthermore, parts of Robinson’s body were found over several days in different locations — including a severed leg discovered near a beach and other remains found in a park. These discoveries, paired with evidence of blood and damage in Anderson’s home, form the crux of the state’s argument.
Legal experts and social justice advocates have voiced concern over the defense’s decision to introduce drug-related claims against the victim, warning it may play into racially charged narratives that blame Black victims for their own deaths. “It’s a classic tactic to shift attention away from the accused and put the victim on trial,” said a local civil rights attorney who is closely following the case.
The court ruled that while the defense may bring up the contents of the safe, they may not explicitly claim Robinson was dealing drugs — as the substances were not formally tested or linked to any criminal activity.
The trial is expected to continue for at least two more weeks, with emotional testimony from both law enforcement and Robinson’s family members. The community continues to mourn the loss of a young life, while closely watching how the court handles this sensitive and high-profile case.
For more information on criminal proceedings and court records in Wisconsin, visit the Wisconsin Court System and Wisconsin Department of Justice.