Sade Carlee Robinson, a 19-year-old college student, went missing after going on a first date with 33-year-old Maxwell Anderson in April 2024. Days after her disappearance, her dismembered body was found scattered across Milwaukee, and her burnt car was discovered abandoned, leading to homicide and arson charges against Anderson. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s office accused him of intentionally killing Robinson, mutiling her corpse, and setting fire to her car to conceal evidence.
Tragically, Robinson’s death did not only mark the loss of the young woman's life but also ignited discussions surrounding racism when local officials attempted to organize her memorial. With the family unable to hold a traditional funeral for their loved one due to the absence of her complete remains, Robinson’s mother, Sheena Scarbrough, requested funding for a public memorial. Scarbrough shared the pain of losing her daughter, saying, “We don’t have all of my baby’s remains, we don’t still have all of my baby’s remains,” as reported by FOX6. The plan was to set up a memorial bench at Warnimont Park, Cudahy, WI, at the cost of $7,000.
Initially, Milwaukee County supervisors approved the proposal, but it quickly met with fierce opposition through emails flooding county offices. Supervisors reported receiving what they described as numerous racist messages objecting to the use of taxpayer funds for the memorial. One notable email even questioned, "Why should Black folks get this when white folks don’t get this?"
County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez sense of disappointment was evident after receiving those emails. "People should be thoroughly ashamed... for treating her as subhuman when it’s absolutely unnecessary and absolutely unethical," he expressed during a committee meeting, emphasizing his shock at the backlash. Another supervisor, Felesia Martin, lamented, “It is most unfortunate... with our prejudices, with our racism and with just plain evil, hateful thoughts,” condemning the prevalent racism reflective of society today.
The public outcry put immense pressure on county officials, leading to the retraction of the memorial proposal. Consequently, Robinson's family decided they would instead raise funds independently via GoFundMe, where they have already accumulated around $5,500 of the $7,000 needed. Robinson’s cousin, Keke, initially felt positive about the proposal but reported how the family began receiving negative feedback from the community, causing distress. "I thought it was cool at first because obviously it was a memorial for Sade," Keke stated.
Reflecting on the tragic loss of her daughter, Sheena shared the emotional toll of the situation, stating during the discussion of the memorial, “This is still the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” emphasizing their current struggle of not having the remains to lay to rest properly.
Despite the discrimination Robinson's family faced, community support has begun to emerge, boosting their efforts to secure memorial funds. Local business owner Omar Shaikh vowed to contribute by organizing fundraising dinner events to raise the necessary funds, voicing his disbelief at the racial undertones of the backlash. He commented, “I’m going to do a [Carnevor] dinner and raise the remaining $4,000 for her memorial.”
The horrific circumstances surrounding Robinson’s death and the subsequent memorial controversy highlight the racial injustices woven deeply within society. It is not just Robinson’s family who has suffered devastating losses; the community now stands at the crossroads of grappling with the underlying prejudices and biases impacting their lives.
No timeline has been set for the trial of Maxwell Anderson, who plead not guilty to all charges against him, which include first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse, and arson. Anderson remains behind bars as the family seeks to honor Sade's memory, pushing firm against the prejudices exhibited by segments of the community.
Through this ordeal, the family hopes their efforts toward securing the memorial will symbolize not only Robinson’s light but also serve as a beacon for conversations to be had about race and community support going forward.