Special report: Ahead of the Maxwell Anderson trial, a look back at the case that has captured the nation's attention

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's a crime that has seized the nation's attention: a Milwaukee woman who went missing was later found dismembered. What started with a first date one night turned into a weekslong search, and now a family's lifetime of pain.

In just a few days, Maxwell Anderson will go on trial for murder.

Anderson is accused of killing Sade Robinson in April of 2024, then scattering her body parts throughout Milwaukee County.

The weeklong disappearance and grisly details of the killing consumed the community.

It started with a missing woman: 19-year-old Sade Robinson was last seen April 1, 2024.

Family and friends felt something was wrong.

Justin Romano, Robinson's coworker, told us at the time, "It wasn't like her at all and we kind of knew something was up."

Searchers fanned out across the city.

On April 2, a severed leg was found in Warnimont Park, but no one connected it to Robinson's disappearance at the time.

Two days later, or April 4^th, Department of Justice investigators searched a home on S. 39^th and a man was taken into custody.

Sade's blanket was discovered, so was her burned-out car.

People started bracing for the worst.

Family friend Julia Ferrara told us during a search, "Sorry, I got to stop for right now, because like that's a lot."

On April 12^th, it was confirmed. Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball announced, "The severed leg has been preliminarily identified as belonging to Ms. Robinson."

Sade was dead. Body parts were still missing.

Volunteer searcher Latoya Crawford said, "I wouldn't be able to even sleep knowing that my baby is a little bit of everywhere in this city right now."

And 33-year-old Maxwell Anderson was under arrest, charged with murder. He appeared in court later that day.

Outside the courtroom, Sade's mother Sheena Scarbrough said, "Sick son of a [expletive] hurt my baby."

Meanwhile, searchers continued looking for Sade's remains. Jazmine McCollum said, "This baby need justice. Her family need justice. Her mom needs peace."

Before the grief and the notoriety and the national attention, there was a connection: Anderson and Robinson met through a dating app and set up a first date.

According to investigators:

• On Monday, April 1, Sade Robinson and Maxwell Anderson met at a Milwaukee seafood restaurant.
• Robinson's phone data showed they went to another bar that night, then to Anderson's home.
• Early the next morning, April 2, the phone pinged to Warnimont Park, where Sade's leg was later found.
• A few hours after that, her burned-out car was discovered and surveillance video showed Anderson leaving that same location.
• On April 4, Anderson was arrested.
• Blood was found on bedding in his house, and on the walls leading to the basement.
• And blood was "in plain sight" on the passenger door of his car.

The community was stunned by the revelations.

Anderson's family released a statement that read, "words cannot express our sorrow for the incomprehensible pain and grief you are going through."

That same day an arm and torso were found on a South Milwaukee beach.

Angela Buchanan lived near where the body parts were found. She told us, "I can't imagine what Sade's family is going through. Nobody will ever be able to understand that."

Sade's family attended a public vigil, where her sister, Adrianna Reams, shared, "She was the strongest person I know."

On April 22^nd, 2024, Anderson pleaded not guilty.

April Bentley was in the courtroom to support Sade's family. "It makes me want to cry, but you can't cry. You have to be strong."

Sade's family held a memorial service in May, despite not having her full body. Her mother, Sheena Scarbrough, told mourners, "We are here to talk about how she walked, how she talked, how she lived."

And Reams, her sister, said, "To every one of you, I'm sorry that we're never going to get to see that light again."

Meanwhile, the court case continued.

In June, DNA testing confirmed an arm that had washed ashore in Illinois was Sade's.

In August, a search warrant was unsealed that said Anderson allegedly told a confidential informant he planned to kill Robinson about a month before her death.

The informant said Anderson told them he intended to pull a gun on her. "He then planned on shooting Robinson and then dismember her body in the room that they were in," later "disposing Robinson's body throughout the city."

His motive was unclear.

As the months wore on, family and friends remembered Sade through vigils, memorials, and murals.

In April, her family marked one year since her disappearance.

Maxwell Anderson is charged with homicide and mutilation of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty.

His trial starts Tuesday, May 27^th.