Published 10:52 11 Jun 2026 GMT
Despite Karmelo Anthony's conviction for the fatal stabbing of Texas teenager Austin Metcalf, more than $635,000 raised through an online fundraiser will still be distributed to his family.
The crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo confirmed to The U.S. Sun that the campaign had been closed following Anthony's conviction but that all funds collected would still be paid out.
The money was originally raised to help cover legal expenses and support Anthony's family during the case.
In a statement, the company explained: "This campaign was created to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were disbursed over the past year for lawful purposes including legal defense and family relocation."
The statement continued: "With that stated purpose now complete, the campaign has been closed the funds will be paid out."
GiveSendGo also emphasized that its fundraising policies require campaigns to remain transparent about their intended purpose, adding: "Our policy is that a campaign's stated purpose stays accurate so givers always know what they are supporting."
The company concluded by saying: "Our prayer is for Austin Metcalf's family, for all those affected, and for justice, mercy, and peace in our community."
Founder Jacob Well separately confirmed that Anthony's family would receive the donations in full.
Even after Anthony was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence, supporters continued contributing to the fundraiser created by his mother, Kala Hayes, following his arrest in connection with Metcalf's death in April 2025.
Donations quickly surpassed $635,000, with contributors continuing to donate amounts ranging from a few dollars to several hundred. Organizers had previously stated that the funds would be used for legal costs, relocation expenses, basic living needs, and security measures.
The fundraiser was eventually removed from the platform shortly before 1PM.
Anthony was convicted of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas. After the verdict was read, emotions ran high inside the courtroom.
The 19-year-old reportedly broke down in tears and was seen shaking as deputies took him into custody. His parents, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, were visibly emotional as they learned his fate.
Before sentencing, Hayes pleaded with jurors to show leniency toward her son.
"Please have mercy on my son. He's my oldest. He'll always be my baby. I love him very much," she told the court.
She added: "I know my son, he's very sorry for what he did."
Despite her appeal, jurors ultimately sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison.
Hours later, Hayes posted a message on Instagram suggesting the family would continue fighting the outcome.
"But GOD....... The fight is not over. It has just BEGUN," she wrote.
During victim impact statements, Metcalf's family addressed Anthony directly, sharing their grief and anger over the loss of their son and brother.
Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, delivered a powerful statement, criticizing Anthony for the pain caused to his family.
"You're going to prison. You can't even look me in the eyes right now, but you can stab my f**king son in the heart," Jeff said.
Describing the emotions he has experienced since Austin's death, he continued: "People think that grief is sadness but it's not.
"It's rage. Pure unfiltered rage."
Jeff also reminded Anthony that actions carry consequences.
"You're free to make choices all you want, but you're not free from those consequences. You will face those consequences starting today."
He added: "You failed your parents, you failed yourself and you failed society. You don't belong in this community."
Austin's twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, also spoke directly to Anthony and asked him to make eye contact.
"If you could just look me in the eyes while I speak, I would really respect that," Hunter said.
Reflecting on the tragedy, he told Anthony: "You let the devil take over in that moment. Eventually your name will be forgotten, but my brother's memory will live on.
"You took a son, a brother, a friend, and my best friend from this world."
Austin's mother, Meghan Metcalf, described her own suffering since losing her son.
"You may have just been given a sentence of 35 years behind bars, but you can consider yourself lucky because I've been sentenced to a lifetime without my son," she claimed.
According to reports, Anthony is currently being housed separately from the general inmate population at Collin County Jail. Enforcement officials told TMZ they are taking "appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of all inmates in the facility," but declined to provide further details regarding his placement.
Under Texas law, Anthony may become eligible for parole after serving half of his 35-year sentence.
Published 16:22 06 Apr 2025 GMT
Published 10:07 11 Jun 2026 GMT
Karmelo Anthony has filed an appeal against his murder conviction less than a day after being sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Texas teenager Austin Metcalf.
Court records obtained by TMZ show that Anthony's legal team submitted a notice of appeal shortly after a jury delivered its verdict. The move marks the next phase in a case that has drawn national attention since the deadly confrontation at a high school track and field event in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025.
Metcalf, 17, died after suffering a single stab wound to the chest during an altercation with Anthony under a tent at Kuykendall Stadium. The Frisco Memorial High School junior died in the arms of his twin brother. Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the incident, maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Anthony's attorney, Mike Howard, confirmed that the defense had formally notified the court of its intention to challenge the conviction.
“After the conclusion of the trial yesterday, we gave the court our official notice that Karmelo Anthony is filing an appeal,” Howard told TMZ.
“We believe there are several important issues for the appellate courts to consider.
“An appeal is the next part of the legal process and a right afforded every American.”
The appeal announcement came after Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network revealed that his organization had provided the first $10,000 toward securing appellate representation.
Speaking to reporters after sentencing, Alexander said: “I respected this process. I allowed and called for peace in this process.
“But Black America should be very upset about what went on today.
“I’m only an advocacy leader. I’m not an attorney. I can only help families navigate these processes when they find themselves in these types of situations.
“I can only allow lawyers to be what they are – lawyers. I can’t instruct them, I can’t stop them from doing anything. I have to respect the process just like anybody else.
“But what we saw today was flawed, unjust, and I can ask that the community continue to pray for the Anthony family.”
Following Anthony's transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, family members and supporters publicly voiced their support.
His girlfriend, Valeria Perez, shared an emotional TikTok post that included photos from their relationship and the message: “Hold your head high, my sweet boy.”
“You’re not alone we’re fighting for you. I love you more than words,” Perez added.
Anthony's mother, Kala Hayes, also addressed the verdict on social media, writing: “But GOD……. The fight is not over. “It has just BEGUN.”
His uncle, Andre Anthony, posted: “What ever [sic] it takes … #FREEMELO.”
Meanwhile, TMZ reported that Metcalf's family was "very happy" with both the guilty verdict and Anthony's sentence.
Outside the Collin County Courthouse, tensions remained high after the sentencing. Anthony's grandmother, Toni Hayes, was captured on video shouting, “Racist! Bias!” from a vehicle as protesters gathered nearby.
As the appeal process begins, Anthony's family is also set to receive more than $635,000 from an online fundraiser launched following his arrest.
The U.S. Sun reported that the campaign, created by Kala Hayes, surpassed $635,000 before it was closed by crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo after Anthony's conviction.
In a statement to the outlet, GiveSendGo said: “This campaign was created to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were disbursed over the past year for lawful purposes including legal defense and family relocation.
“With that stated purpose now complete, the campaign has been closed the funds will be paid out.
“Our policy is that a campaign’s stated purpose stays accurate so givers always know what they are supporting.
“Our prayer is for Austin Metcalf’s family, for all those affected, and for justice, mercy, and peace in our community.”
GiveSendGo founder Jacob Well separately confirmed that the family would receive the money in full.
According to organizers, the funds were intended to help cover legal expenses, relocation costs, basic living expenses, and security measures. Before the campaign was shut down, supporters continued contributing toward a fundraising goal of $1.39 million.
Published 09:21 11 Jun 2026 GMT
Following the much-criticized sentencing of Karmelo Anthony for the murder of Austin Metcalf, a picture of the victim’s father has gone viral, with him appearing to be friends with the case judge.
This comes after Anthony’s family publicly criticized the outcome of the case, describing both the conviction and punishment as completely unfair.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters after the hearing, Anthony's mother, Kala, and his brother denounced the verdict as "racist and biased" while supporters gathered nearby chanting, "free Karmelo."
Jurors reportedly spent around three hours deliberating before finding Anthony guilty. They then spent another three hours considering his punishment before returning with a sentence.
In the aftermath of the case, a social media post gained significant attention after claiming that Austin Metcalf's father had been photographed alongside the judge and district attorney involved in Anthony's trial.
The post alleged that the image showed Metcalf's father with the officials overseeing the case and urged people to challenge the outcome in federal court. It read: "this is a leak image of Austin Metcalf father with the Judge and DA that are presiding Karmelo Anthony case . We need to take this to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit right away."
However, those claims were quickly disputed.
A Texas attorney responded to the viral post on X, stating that the individuals in the photograph had been misidentified. He wrote: "So many lies here. This isn't Judge Roach. This isn't the DA."
The attorney also pointed out another factual error in the post, adding: "And the case will never go to the 9th Circuit because Texas is in the 5th Circuit."
X later attached a community note to the post clarifying the situation. The note stated: "The men in the photo are not Judge John Roach Jr. or Collin County DA Greg Willis, as confirmed by appearance comparisons. Texas state cases are appealed to the 5th Circuit, not the 9th."
Austin, 17, died following an incident at a track and field event in Frisco, Texas, in April of last year. Prosecutors accused Anthony of fatally stabbing the teenager.
During the trial, Anthony's defense team argued that he acted in self-defense during the confrontation. Despite that argument, the jury ultimately convicted him of first-degree murder.
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Published 16:28 10 Jun 2026 GMT
The mother of the late Austin Metcalf spoke directly to the man who fatally stabbed her son before he was sentenced.
Karmelo Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Tuesday (June 9) after being convicted of murdering Metcalf at a high school athletics event.
The teenager broke down in tears after the sentence was handed down in a Texas courtroom, as Metcalf's family delivered emotional statements about their son, directly to him.
His father, Jeff, delivered a powerful message, stating that "you can't even look me in the eyes right now, but you can stab my f**king son in the heart."
Meghan, the mother of the victim, also delivered an emotional statement in court following the sentencing, speaking about how she feels now that her son is gone.
Speaking directly to the murderer, she said, as per CBS News: "Now my conversations with him are one-sided, sitting at his grave...
"I have to accept that instead of walking beside me, he's walking above me."
She added: “Going into an empty room, empty bed, and once again remembering Austin is dead.”
Meghan said that her son was a "morning kid" and a "hugger," and said the teen "always had a way of bringing people together. He was a peacemaker."
"My son was murdered. He didn't just die," she said about the events leading to his death, admitting that the biggest challenge has been dealing with the loss daily.
Speaking directly to Anthony, she added as per WFAA: "You should feel lucky you got 35 because I’ve been given a life sentence," Meghan added of the sorrow she feels over Metcalf's death.
The statement was made after the jury delivered the sentence, with Metcalf's twin brother and father also making victim impact statements.
One of the most emotional moments in the courtroom came when Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, demanded that Anthony look at him as he described the devastation caused by his son's death.
"You're going to prison," Jeff told Anthony, per the Daily Mail. "You can't even look me in the eyes right now, but you can stab my f**king son in the heart."
Anthony kept his head down as Austin's loved ones spoke about the impact of losing the 17-year-old, who was stabbed to death in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.
"If you ask me what my son's death did to me, I would tell you it destroyed the person I used to be. Not changed me, destroyed me," Jeff told the courtroom.
The grieving father said that while he forgave Anthony "the day it happened," he would never forgive "what you did."
He also spoke about missing out on seeing his son grow up and admitted he wished he had been there to protect him.
"People think that grief is sadness, but it's not. It's rage! Pure unfiltered rage," Jeff shouted.
"My son's death didn't just break my heart... It destroyed my sense of safety, my faith in people."
"We're all humans. We all bleed the same color," he said about the case being about race, before turning back to Anthony and adding: "You're free to make choices all you want, but you're not free from those consequences. You will face those consequences starting today.
"You failed your parents, you failed yourself, and you failed society. You don't belong in this community," he also stated.
Published 12:52 10 Jun 2026 GMT
The father of murdered teenager Austin Metcalf made a heartbreaking five-word demand to his son's convicted killer.
Karmelo Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted of murdering high school athlete Austin Metcalf.
The 19-year-old broke down in tears as the sentence was handed down in a Texas courtroom on Tuesday (June 9), where Austin's family delivered emotional victim impact statements directly to him.
One of the most powerful moments in the courtroom came when Austin's father, Jeff Metcalf, demanded that Anthony look at him as he described the devastation caused by his son's death.
"You're going to prison," Jeff told Anthony, per Daily Mail. "You can't even look me in the eyes right now, but you can stab my f**king son in the heart."
Anthony kept his head down as Austin's loved ones continued to speak about the impact of losing the 17-year-old, who was fatally stabbed during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.
"If you ask me what my son's death did to me, I would tell you it destroyed the person I used to be. Not changed me, destroyed me," Jeff told the courtroom.
The grieving father said he forgave Anthony "the day it happened" but would never forgive "what you did."
He also spoke about missing out on seeing his son grow up and admitted he wished he had been there to protect him.
"People think that grief is sadness but it's not. It's rage! Pure unfiltered rage," Jeff shouted. "My son's death didn't just break my heart... It destroyed my sense of safety, my faith in people."
The father also rejected suggestions that the case was about race, telling the court it was instead about accountability.
"We're all humans. We all bleed the same color," he said, before turning back to Anthony, and adding: "You're free to make choices all you want, but you're not free from those consequences. You will face those consequences starting today.
"You failed your parents, you failed yourself and you failed society. You don't belong in this community," he added.
Austin's identical twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, also asked Anthony to make eye contact with him.
"If you could just look me in the eye while I speak, I would really respect that," he said.
Anthony continued looking down as Hunter described the future that had been stolen from his family.
"You took a son, a brother, a friend, and my best friend, from this world," he said. "You took someone from me who was supposed to be an uncle, godfather to my kids. Now I want everything taken from you."
Hunter said Anthony had let "the devil" take over during the confrontation.
"Eventually your name will be forgotten, but my brother's memory will live on," he continued. "I always say 'An eye for an eye,' but you still have air to breathe while my brother is six feet under."
He also shared how his mother cries herself to sleep and how he wakes up every day to find Austin's bedroom door still shut.
Austin's mother, Meghan Metcalf, told the court she had been left "crushed" by her son's death.
"Seeing my loving son, his identical twin, lose the most important person in his life, it crushes you as a mother," she said.
She described Austin as a teenager who brought people together. "He was the peacemaker, the protector," she added.
Addressing Anthony directly, she said: "There is a part of him you can never take away from me or anyone who loves Austin. What it meant to be loved by him. It's the love that I can continue to have in my heart.
"He was taken from us just as he was starting to really live," she continued. "You may have just been given a sentence of 35 years behind bars, but you can consider yourself lucky because I've been sentenced to a lifetime without my son."
Anthony faced between five and 99 years in prison after being found guilty of murder.
His lawyers argued that he acted under "sudden passion," a legal defense in Texas that can reduce the severity of a sentence.
Defense attorney Mike Howard claimed Anthony "didn't have time for cool reflection," arguing: "He acted in that moment and sudden passion applies."
But prosecutor Bill Wirskye disagreed. "Sudden passion doesn't fit here. They've got it wrong," he said. "Sudden passion is when the victim, the dead person provokes. Who caused this? Not Austin Metcalf, Karmelo Anthony did."
Jurors ultimately rejected the argument before sentencing Anthony to 35 years behind bars.
Prosecutors said the late teenager was stabbed during an argument under a tent at a high school track meet in Frisco.
Anthony claimed he acted in self-defense, but witnesses testified that he was the aggressor and told Austin: "Touch me and see what happens."
According to testimony, Austin pushed Anthony before Anthony pulled out a folding knife and stabbed him once in the chest.
A medical examiner testified that the knife pierced Austin's chest bone and punctured the right side of his heart.
Jurors were also shown police body camera footage of Hunter desperately trying to save his brother.
Anthony will have to serve at least half of his 35 year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
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