A lawsuit may be filed against the city of Waukegan related to the actions of city officials following last year’s discovery of a human arm on Waukegan Municipal Beach that came from the body of a woman killed in Milwaukee.
After a passerby found the arm on the beach on May 11, 2024, Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward, posted a photo of it on social media for two days, claiming he was doing so to emphasize a lack of transparency from the mayor’s office about the discovery. He was censured by the Waukegan City Council two weeks later.
An attorney for the estate of the dead woman, Sade Robinson, submitted a notice of claim with the city on April 1 informing officials that it is investigating the incident and preserving the right to eventually file a lawsuit.
Robinson, 19, of Milwaukee, was killed and her body dismembered on April 1, 2024, according to the notice. Maxwell Anderson of Milwaukee was charged with murder in her death, according to the notice. His trial is scheduled to begin May 27 in Milwaukee.
Verona Swanigan, the attorney for Robinson’s estate, said Thursday she will not comment on the situation until Anderson’s trial concludes.
David Motley, the director of public relations for the city of Waukegan, said the city is unable to comment on potential pending litigation. Turner took the same position Friday.
Under Illinois law, governmental entities have a large degree of immunity from lawsuits claiming negligence. The law requires filing a notice of claim to preserve any rights a person may have against a municipality or an employee acting in their official capacity, according to the law.
Anderson “discarded (Robinson’s) remains into Lake Michigan (on) April 1, 2024,” and on May 12 the arm was discovered on the Waukegan beach, the notice of claim said. Sheena Scarbrough, Robinson’s mother, first saw her daughter’s arm on social media, according to the notice.
Swanigan said in the notice that she may want to gather evidence about the city’s role in handling and identifying the remains, mishandling the arm, any role the city had with the posting of the arm on Turner’s social media page, or acts of omission by city officials.
“The family of Sade Robinson has suffered extraordinary emotional trauma due to the fragmented discovery of her body, with delays in communication and coordination between the agencies exacerbating their suffering,” Swanigan said in the notice.
Though the amount of any money awarded for emotional distress, “interference with the right to entomb and mourn” and burial will be determined in court, Swanigan believes it will exceed $500,000, according to the notice.
Shortly after the city learned of the situation, then-Mayor Ann Taylor criticized Turner for posting the photo on social media and offered condolences to Robinson’s family. Local police contacted Milwaukee authorities immediately after the discovery, believing it was Robinson’s arm.
“I find the posting of an image of this type to be morally disgusting, socially irresponsible, and extremely cruel to the victim’s family,” Taylor said at the time. “I hope all Waukeganites join me in prayer for the victim of this horrific crime and for the victim’s family.”
When the City Council met on June 3, 2024, it voted 6-3 to censure Turner. Though asked to apologize for his actions, he refused.
Freelance reporter Clifford Ward contributed to this story.
