After the Verdict: Austin Metcalf’s father claims Karmelo Anthony’s parents ab@ndoned their s0n after he was sentenced to 35 years in pr!son
THE grieving dad of murdered Austin Metcalf has blasted killer Karmelo Anthony’s parents for walking out of court — and leaving their son alone to face his sentencing.
Jeff Metcalf, whose 17-year-old son was fatally stabbed during a Texas high school track meet in April 2025, was appalled they departed before hearing emotional victim impact statements earlier this month.
Metcalf told Fox News host Will Cain that Anthony’s parents, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, did not return to the courtroom after the jury found their son guilty, leaving the now 19-year-old to hear his fate without them by his side.
“They weren’t there for the sentencing and they were not there for victim impact statements,” Metcalf said. “They left that poor child up there by himself.”
The remarks came after Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison on June 9.
According to prosecutors, Anthony stabbed Austin in the chest with a knife during the encounter, piercing the teenager’s heart and killing him as he lay in his twin brother’s arms.Dramatic Karmelo Anthony bodycam & murder weapon pic is finally released
The case quickly became one of the most closely watched criminal trials in Texas, generating intense public debate and drawing nationwide attention.
Despite the hefty prison term, the agony continues for the Metcalf family.
Metcalf said he has not spoken with Anthony’s parents since the day his son was killed, revealing they never apologized for their son’s deplorable actions.
Asked whether the family had ever expressed remorse, he said: “No.I was hoping for some accountability maybe and some remorse. Neither one was shown.”
While Metcalf’s fury was directed at Anthony’s parents, he also expressed sympathy for the convicted teen who faced sentencing alone.
The comments came as Anthony’s family continued to insist that he was not a murderer and had acted in self-defense during the deadly altercation which ended with a $13 Walmart knife plunged into the victim’s heart.
Just one day after the sentencing, Anthony’s mom publicly defended her son, while rejecting the jury’s conclusion.
“My son is no murderer,” she told CBS.
“My son was defending himself, and that’s what hurts so bad.”
Hayes also attacked testimony presented during the trial, claiming that witnesses had not told the truth.
“Everyone lied on the stand,” she alleged.
She also suggested that jurors had already made their minds up and questioned whether her son received a fair trial.
Throughout the trial, relatives repeatedly argued that racial prejudice influenced public perception of the case and may have affected the proceedings themselves.
Following the guilty verdict, Anthony’s grandmother, Toni Hayes, was seen leaving the courthouse while shouting, “Racist!” at onlookers and members of the media.
Supporters have also argued that Anthony became the target of racial hostility after the stabbing, maintaining that the teenager was unfairly portrayed in the public eye.
On an episode of “The View,” co-host and former federal prosecutor Sunny Hostin questioned aspects of the jury-selection process and suggested Anthony may not have been judged by a jury that reflected his peers.
Hostin referenced Batson challenges, a legal mechanism used when one side alleges that potential jurors are being excluded on unconstitutional grounds such as race, ethnicity, or gender.
“You’re supposed to have a jury of your peers,” Hostin said. “You’re not just supposed to strike someone because they’re Black.”
She added that concerns surrounding jury selection could potentially become an issue during the appeals process.
Anthony’s legal team wasted little time challenging the verdict.
Less than 24 hours after the jury convicted him, attorneys filed a notice of appeal, signaling their intention to fight the outcome in higher courts.
Six attorneys have since announced they will represent Anthony on a pro bono basis, meaning they will not charge him legal fees as they pursue the appeal.
The move comes despite controversy surrounding the family’s finances.
During the legal battle, Anthony previously claimed he was effectively penniless, even as crowdfunding campaigns launched on his behalf reportedly raised more than $600,000 for his defense.
His supporters argue those funds were necessary to cover legal expenses and help the family navigate the high-profile case.
Still, the appeal filing does not mean Anthony will automatically receive a new trial.
Legal experts note that appellate courts typically review whether errors occurred during the proceedings rather than rehearing evidence from scratch.
The process, however, can take months, and in some cases years, before a final decision is reached.
