Austin Metcalf’s grieving dad scolded Karmelo Anthony’s parents for fleeing the courtroom after the teen was convicted of murder — skipping the emotional statements from victims and leaving Anthony high and dry during sentencing.
Jeff Metcalf expressed empathy to Anthony, now 19, while condemning his parents for not sitting through the entire proceedings at the courthouse in McKinney, Texas, earlier this month.
The teen was ultimately sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf at a track meet in April 2025.
The elder Metcalf said Anthony’s parents, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, failed to return to the courthouse after the guilty verdict was handed down – leaving their son to learn his fate while they peddled the narrative he wasn’t given a fair trial.
“They weren’t there for the sentencing and they were not there for victim impact statements,” Metcalf told Fox News host Will Cain. “They left that poor child up there by himself.”
Metcalf told Cain that he hasn’t spoken to Anthony’s parents since the stabbing at the high school track meet at Frisco’s Kuykendall Stadium where 17-year-old Austin’s heart was pierced with a $13 Walmart knife.
He was also asked if he had received an apology, to which he replied, “No.”
“I was hoping for some accountability maybe and some remorse,” he said. “Neither one was shown.”
Anthony’s legal team is already gearing up to file an appeal — and six lawyers confirmed they will be representing him pro bono, meaning free of charge.
He previously claimed he was “penniless” despite his family raking in over $600,000 in crowdfunding for his legal defense.
His parents, meanwhile, have consistently claimed he isn’t a killer, and have insinuated the trial was peppered with racist undertones.
“My son is no murderer,” she told CBS the day after the sentencing.
“My son was defending himself, and that’s what hurts so bad.”
Hayes also berated witnesses who testified, claiming “everyone lied on the stand.”
She also alleged that jurors had already made up their mind before the trial got underway, Court TV reported.
Anthony’s family and his legion of supporters have claimed he was the victim of racism. His grandmother, Toni Hayes, was filmed shouting “Racist!” leaving the courthouse.
Former federal prosecutor Sunny Hostin, who is a co-host on “The View, suggested Monday that Anthony didn’t have a jury of his peers — referring to Batson challenges, when one side in a trial argues that the other side is using unconstitutional grounds to dismiss a potential juror, such as race, ethnicity or gender.
“You’re supposed to have a jury of your peers — you’re not just supposed to strike someone because they’re black,” she said. “I don’t think he had a jury of his peers, so on appeal there is a legitimate thing.”
Anthony’s team filed a notice of appeal less than 24 hours after the guilty verdict.
But it doesn’t mean he will face a new trial.
It could take several months for the appeal process to run its course.
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