Karmelo Anthony, 19, was moved to a state prison in Navasota, Texas, one day after his sentencing for the 2025 murder of Austin Metcalf. A Texas jury convicted him of first-degree murder and imposed a 35-year term. Anthony has filed an appeal.
Anthony was convicted in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. The trial concluded with the jury rejecting his self-defense claim after hearing testimony from multiple witnesses.
The day after sentencing, Anthony was transferred to the Wallace Pack Unit. His prison intake photo shows his head shaved. He has requested a court-appointed attorney for the appeal, stating he is indigent despite a GiveSendGo fundraiser that raised more than $635,000.
Anthony's mother, Kayla Hayes, told CBS Texas that her son acted in self-defense and that witnesses lied on the stand. His father, Andrew Anthony, said public opinion had predetermined the outcome before trial.
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett said the sentence reflected a broken system and suggested race played a role in the verdict.
