Podcast Summary: "Sade Robinson and the Secret Beach"

48 Hours – CBS News | Air date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode examines the haunting case of Sade Robinson, a 19-year-old college student from Milwaukee whose murder in April 2024 shocked her community. Through meticulous reporting and interviews with family, law enforcement, and witnesses, "48 Hours" details the investigation—from the discovery of body parts on a secluded beach to the identification, arrest, and trial of Maxwell Anderson, the man accused and convicted of the crime. The episode provides a poignant exploration of justice, loss, and the broader implications of violence against Black women.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery of the Crime

• First Clues ([00:54–01:28]): Detective Joe Donner describes the odd circumstances leading her to Warnamont Park, where she quickly determined a homicide had occurred after finding body parts.

  • Quote (Detective Donner): "There was just no way for that to get there by accident. And that's when I knew we had a homicide." [01:14–01:28]

• Identification of the Victim ([01:30–01:53]): Initial evidence pointed to the victim being an African American female, but little else was known.

2. Missing Person to Murder Investigation

• Missing Report ([01:55–02:32]): Sade Robinson is reported missing by her family after failing to return from a date.

• Alarm Bells ([02:32]): "Nobody's seen her since the date. Right away alarm bells were going off for me. We needed to figure out who this date was." – Detective Nora Donegan [02:32]

3. Unraveling the Timeline

• Key Pieces of Evidence

  • Sade's burned car is found with her belongings inside ([05:09–06:17]), eliminating robbery as a likely motive.
  • Car seat positioning and Life360 app data help reconstruct events and suggest a tall male was driving ([06:17–07:14]).

• Digital Breadcrumbs

  • Life360 app proves instrumental in tracing Sade’s last movements, including her phone's final signal at Warnamont Park ([07:59]), which matches the crime scene location.

4. Tracking the Final Hours

• Work and Family ([09:35–10:14]): Sade's diligent work ethic and goals are discussed by her younger sister and mother.

• Day of the Crime

  • After working, Sade leaves for her date with Maxwell Anderson ([11:07–11:46]).
  • Security footage at two locations (restaurants and bars) display the pair interacting with limited physical contact ([11:46–13:44]).

• Surveillance and Chilling Finds ([14:36–15:38]): Cameras capture a shadowy figure dragging something to the lake at Warnamont Park and returning later with a backpack—a detail tying Maxwell Anderson to the "secret beach" location ([15:32–15:40]).

5. The Suspect: Maxwell Anderson

• Who is Maxwell Anderson? ([17:06–18:40])

  • A bartender Sade met days earlier while job-hunting.

  • Has a criminal past including disorderly conduct and violent incidents.

  • Had been in the Navy briefly, receiving a general discharge.

  • Quote: "This guy's got a temper and he doesn't really seem to care who he takes that temper out on." – Detective Donner [18:40]

6. The Investigation Narrows

• Search and Arrest ([19:07–20:21]):

  • Search of Anderson's house yields an arsenal of knives, but no direct forensic evidence of a murder scene.
  • Investigators stay broad, still checking other missing persons and leads.

• Community Search ([21:27–22:15]):

  • Volunteers, including friends of Sade, outpace law enforcement in finding evidence, adding frustration and urgency.

7. The "Secret Beach" Connection

• Ex-Girlfriend Reveals Location ([22:23–24:09]):

  • Chloe Wright, Anderson’s former partner, tells police about the secret beach Anderson was obsessed with—Warnamont Park, the very crime scene.

  • Quote (Chloe Wright): "He didn't want me to know the name in case we broke up. He didn't want me bringing other people to his secret spot." [23:37]

8. Charging Anderson

• Confirmation and Charges ([24:36–25:30]):
  • Remains positively identified as Sade’s.
  • Anderson charged with murder, mutilation, and arson.

9. The Trial: Circumstantial Yet Compelling

• State's Case ([26:12–27:28]):

  • Centered on timeline, surveillance footage, Life360 data, and Sade’s belongings.
  • Prosecutor: "She was murdered by Maxwell Anderson. Her body was dismembered...in a vicious and gruesome manner." – Prosecutor Ian Vance Curzan [26:38]

• Defense Arguments ([28:03–28:40]):

  • Focused on lack of direct evidence, unknown cause of death, and no proven motive.
  • Attempts to cast doubt by mentioning unfounded drug involvement.

• Key Evidence for Jurors ([30:05–32:18]):

  • Security footage shows Anderson leaving the scene of Sade’s burning car and boarding a bus with a large backpack.

  • Sade’s DNA found in Anderson’s discarded jacket.

  • Deleted photos on Anderson’s phone, depicting Sade in disturbing conditions, are cited by jurors as pivotal.

  • Quote (Juror): "To see the way he treated her like an object, it was really disturbing...that did it." [32:18–33:06]

10. Verdict and Sentencing

• Guilty on All Counts ([33:47–34:05]):

  • The jury returns a guilty verdict on all charges in under an hour.

• Victim Impact Statements ([35:05–36:30]):

  • Sade’s sister, Adriana: "He made it to where I cannot meet any person without the fear that they're gonna harm or kill me, because all my sister did was meet someone." [35:05]
  • Her parents demand justice fit for the cruelty inflicted.

• Family's Ongoing Grief

  • The family pleads for the return of "Sade's crown"—her head, which is still missing ([36:21–36:42]).

11. Anderson Speaks ([36:47–37:24])

• Anderson, at sentencing, maintains his innocence but expresses "condolences."

  • Quote: "That being said, you, Honor, I did not commit these crimes." – Maxwell Anderson [37:14]

• He offers a version in which Sade was abducted after leaving his apartment.

12. Aftermath & Legacy ([39:18–41:39])

• Maximum sentence imposed: life without parole ([39:50–40:00]).

• Sade remembered as a role model; her sister accepts her degree at graduation.

• A mural and a memorial bench are established.

• Family launches advocacy efforts for victims and against violence toward Black women.

  • Quote (Judge Crivello): "She was a girl that I would hope all young ladies strive to be...you stole a truly shining light..." [39:26–39:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Detective Donner on the crime scene: "You don't often see body parts being discovered. So this is odd." [00:54–00:55]
• Adriana Robinson: "He tried to erase her existence and her value. Now I no longer have the opportunity to try and give her everything she gave me." [35:05–35:31]
• Judge Laura Crivello: "You shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life... you will not be eligible for extended supervision." [39:50–40:00]
• On wishing for closure: “I’m going to respectfully request that you confess where my daughter’s crown is.” – Sheena Robinson [36:23]
• On Sade’s legacy: “I’m going to remember her by following in her footsteps and fill the hole that she left. Although I know I can never live up to anywhere near her shoes.” – Adriana Robinson [40:51–41:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Discovery & Initial Investigation: [00:54–03:21]
• Sade’s Background & Last Day: [09:35–11:20]
• Surveillance Footage & Timeline: [12:12–15:40]
• Tracking Anderson: [17:06–20:21]
• Community Efforts & "Secret Beach": [21:27–24:09]
• Trial Proceedings: [26:12–34:05]
• Family & Sentencing: [35:05–40:00]
• Sade’s Legacy and Memorials: [40:12–41:39]

Tone and Closing Reflection

The episode is thorough, sensitive, and investigative, balancing factual detail with human impact. Interviews with Sade's family, jurors, and detectives evoke the lasting pain generated by the crime, while the trial and aftermath highlight both the complexity of seeking justice and the holes such loss leaves in a community.

For listeners seeking both an account of the case and a reflection on its broader implications—particularly regarding violence against Black women—this episode provides a deeply reported, emotionally engaging narrative.