The Tragic Murder of Sade Robinson: Milwaukee College Student's Disappearance | Black Girl Gone Podcast
The disappearance of 19-year-old Shade Robinson shocked Milwaukee, Wisconsin in April 2024. A promising college student majoring in criminal justice at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Shade vanished after a date on April 1st, 2024. Surveillance footage captured her leaving a bar with her date in her car - the last time she would be seen alive. When she failed to appear for work the following day and remained unreachable, her concerned family reported her missing.
Behind the headlines of this tragedy was a vibrant young woman with dreams and aspirations. Born in Mississippi and raised primarily in Milwaukee, Shade was known for her contagious laugh and determined spirit. She balanced two jobs while pursuing her education, planning to graduate that May. Friends described her as confident and unstoppable - qualities that made her absence immediately concerning to those who knew her well.
Key Takeaways
Shade Robinson, a 19-year-old college student, disappeared after a date on April 1st, 2024 in Milwaukee.
Prior to her disappearance, Shade was balancing college studies in criminal justice with two jobs and was weeks away from graduation.
Police investigations quickly uncovered disturbing evidence that would lead to the identification of a suspect in her case.
Shade Robinson's Disappearance and Murder
Shade Robinson, a 19-year-old college student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, vanished on April 1, 2024, after going on a date. Her disappearance and subsequent murder shocked the Milwaukee community and devastated her family. Born in Mississippi and raised primarily in Milwaukee, Shade was pursuing a criminal justice degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College while working two jobs to support herself.
Known for her infectious laugh and unstoppable drive, Shade was balancing college life with employment at both Pizza Shuttle and Wisconsin Country Club. She was on track to graduate with her associate's degree in May 2024 before her life was tragically cut short.
Final Evening and Missing Person Report
On April 1, 2024, Shade spoke with her mother via FaceTime before heading to her shift at Pizza Shuttle. After work, she prepared for a date she had been looking forward to with 33-year-old Maxwell Anderson. Text messages revealed their plan to meet around 5:00 PM.
The pair exchanged several messages that afternoon:
4:15 PM: Shade confirmed the 5:00 PM meeting time
Maxwell suggested meeting downtown
Maxwell then proposed Brat House on Third Street
Maxwell later changed the location to Twisted Fisherman, mentioning he needed to pick up his W2
Surveillance footage captured Shade arriving at the Twisted Fisherman around 5:20 PM, where Maxwell was already seated at the bar. Witnesses observed them having casual conversation over drinks and food for approximately an hour before they left together.
The two decided to continue their evening at another establishment. They traveled in Shade's car to Duke's on Water, arriving around 6:30 PM. Security cameras recorded them entering the bar, where they remained until shortly after 9:00 PM.
Investigation and Disturbing Discoveries
The day after Shade's date, April 2nd, she failed to report to work and had not contacted any friends or family members—behavior completely out of character for her. This prompted immediate concern, leading to a missing person report being filed with Milwaukee police.
However, before this report was even submitted, law enforcement had already begun making a series of disturbing discoveries that would eventually reveal the truth behind Shade's disappearance. These findings would ultimately lead investigators to the person responsible for her death.
While the case is still awaiting trial as of March 2025, available evidence indicates that after leaving Duke's on Water around 9:00 PM on April 1st, Shade and Maxwell were captured on surveillance video getting into her car together. It's believed they may have been heading to Maxwell's residence, though this detail hasn't been definitively confirmed.
The timeline of events shows:
5:20 PM - Arrival at first location (Twisted Fisherman)
6:30 PM - Arrival at second location (Duke's on Water)
9:00 PM - Departure from Duke's on Water
April 2nd - Shade fails to appear for work
This marked the beginning of an investigation that would reveal the tragic fate of a young woman described by those who knew her as confident, talented, and full of potential.
Shad's Journey and Heritage
Formative Years and Cultural Roots
Shad Robinson entered the world on May 10, 2004, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Born to Sheena Scarboro and Carlos Robinson, she spent her first year in Mississippi before relocating to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her mother and grandparents. Her mother often described her as a curious child with a natural desire to explore everything around her. During her elementary years, Shad participated in soccer and joined the Girl Scouts. Her father Carlos lived in Florida, which meant Shad would divide her time between both parents' homes during her childhood.
Academic Path and Aspirations
Shad's educational journey had its ups and downs. In middle school, she joined Junior ROTC and began dreaming about serving in the Air Force. After experiencing some academic challenges in seventh grade, she moved to Florida to live with her father full-time. By high school, Shad had transformed into an exceptional student who was well-liked by her peers. Through dedication and hard work, she graduated a semester early, completing high school in December 2021. Shad then enrolled at Milwaukee Area Technical College, pursuing a major in criminal justice, and moved into her own apartment to establish her independence.
Creative Expressions
As Shad grew, she developed a profound appreciation for artistic expression. Her talents spanned from rapping to various dance forms, including ballroom dancing at one point. According to her mother, Shad was always willing to try new creative outlets and activities. Her artistic abilities complemented her academic pursuits, creating a well-rounded individual. Friends often mentioned how her confidence shone through these creative endeavors without ever crossing into arrogance—she simply knew her strengths and expressed them through her passions.
Ambitions, Aspirations, and Untimely Departure
By 2024, at just 19 years old, Shad was balancing significant responsibilities with remarkable poise. She maintained two jobs—one at Pizza Shuttle, where she had worked since age 15, and another at the Wisconsin Country Club—all while pursuing her associate's degree. As described by a close friend to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Her laugh was contagious. She was confident in the best possible way. She was unstoppable, and not in an arrogant way." Shad was preparing to graduate from MATC that May and making plans for her future. Tragically, on April 1, 2024, Shad went on a date in Milwaukee that would be her last. After meeting her date at a local restaurant and later visiting another establishment, Shad was never seen alive again. Her promising life was cut short before she could fulfill her dreams and aspirations.
The Person of Interest
Maxwell Anderson's Link to Robinson
Maxwell Anderson, a 33-year-old former bar employee, became the central figure in the investigation of Shade Robinson's disappearance. Prior to April 1, 2024, Anderson had worked at a local Milwaukee establishment, possibly one that Robinson and her friends frequented. This connection might explain how their paths initially crossed, though investigators have not definitively confirmed whether they met through a dating app or in person at his workplace.
Police attention focused on Anderson after reviewing communications between him and Robinson. Their text exchanges showed him suggesting meeting locations and changing plans, ultimately directing her to the Twisted Fisherman restaurant where he needed to collect a W-2 form from previous employment.
The Evening's Timeline and Last Known Whereabouts
On April 1, 2024, Robinson and Anderson met for their first date around 5:20 PM at the Twisted Fisherman. Anderson had arrived earlier and was waiting at the bar when Robinson joined him. Restaurant witnesses reported seeing them engaged in casual conversation while having drinks and food.
After approximately one hour, the pair left together in Robinson's car. Security footage captured their arrival at a second venue, Duke's on Water, at approximately 6:30 PM. Inside this establishment, cameras recorded them:
Ordering drinks
Engaging in conversation
Remaining for about 2.5 hours
The final confirmed sighting of Robinson occurred shortly after 9:00 PM when surveillance cameras recorded her and Anderson leaving Duke's and entering her vehicle together. They departed from downtown Milwaukee, presumably heading toward Anderson's residence, though Robinson's intentions weren't clear to anyone else. This moment represents the last time Shade Robinson was seen alive.
The Investigation
The day after Shade's disappearance, Milwaukee police began uncovering a series of disturbing findings. When Shade failed to show up for her shift at Pizza Shuttle on April 2nd, her absence immediately raised concerns among colleagues. Her family had not heard from her since the previous evening's FaceTime call before her work shift, which was highly unusual for the responsible 19-year-old.
Law enforcement quickly obtained surveillance footage from both establishments Shade had visited. The recordings clearly showed her with Maxwell Anderson at the Twisted Fisherman around 5:20 PM, where they sat together at the bar for approximately an hour. Additional footage captured them arriving at Duke's on Water at 6:30 PM and leaving together in Shade's car shortly after 9:00 PM.
Police traced their movements through traffic cameras and discovered they had traveled in the direction of Maxwell's residence. This was particularly significant as it represented the last confirmed sighting of Shade Robinson. Detectives immediately identified Maxwell Anderson, 33, as a person of interest based on text messages recovered from Shade's phone and witness statements.
Investigators interviewed staff from both establishments who confirmed seeing the pair together. Witnesses described their interaction as appearing casual and normal, with nothing overtly concerning about their behavior. However, the complete disappearance of all communication from Shade after leaving the second bar raised immediate red flags.
During their initial search, police found:
Shade's phone was unresponsive and appeared to be turned off
Her apartment showed no signs of her return after the date
Her vehicle was missing from its usual parking location
None of her friends or family had any information about her plans after the date
Within 48 hours of her disappearance, the investigation intensified as forensic teams were dispatched to Maxwell Anderson's residence. Detectives began collecting evidence and processing potential crime scenes connected to the missing young woman.
