19-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a high school, was pronounced guilty Tuesday of the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at an inter-school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025.
Amid the verdict, questions were raised around the defense strategy Karmelo’s parents adopted with former Dallas public defender, Mike Howard representing the 19-year-old. Questions were raised as the family received over $600,000 via a GiveSendGo campaign to fund Anthony’s legal defense.
A key question that emerged in discussions of is why Karmelo Anthony’s parents, especially his mother, Kayla Hays, allegedly chose trial instead of a plea deal. They argued Anthony would have gotten 20 years in prison with a plea deal instead of a life term with the guilty verdict.
While Karmelo Anthony entered a not guilty plea, there is no confirmation that the 19-year-old was ever offered a plea deal in the first place. There were discussions about a potential plea deal on social media, but it is unclear if discussions on a plea offer actually took place.
Also read: Who are Karmelo Anthony’s parents? What we know about his family after Austin Metcalf murder verdict
Thus, the insinuations on social media suggesting Karmelo Anhony’s parents chose to go to trial instead of a plea deal purportedly to raise money on the GiveSendGo campaign are speculative. Misinformation in similar veins suggesting that Anthony’s parents bought a house with the GiveSendGo money has been fact-checked by Ht.com.
Here’s a post by popular right-wing commentator Matt Walsh that insinuates Karmelo Anthony’s parents did not go for a plea deal because of the money.
“Keep in mind, if Karmelo had plead guilty early on, it would have cut the fundraiser short,” Walsh wrote. “His parents chose to send him to trial so they could keep raking in the cash. They don’t love or care about him. Awful people who inevitably raised an awful son. My only regret is that they can’t be thrown in a prison cell along with him.”
Also read: Karmelo Anthony found guilty: Protest outside McKinney court after Austin Metcalf suspect’s verdict; videos
Karmelo Anthony’s Mother Makes Emotional Appeal
Karmelo Anthony’s mother testified before the court shortly before the guilty verdict was announced. Fox4 reports that Hays asked the jurors to “show mercy”, noting that Karmelo Anthony is “sorry for what he did.”
The testimony turned dramatic with the cross-examination as prosecutors quickly contrasted it with the case of Austin Metcalf’s parents, who have lost their son to the incident. She was asked if she still loved her son, and upon replying in the affirmative, the prosecutors asked: “Regardless of what happens, you realize he will still get to be part of your life?”
“Yes, I do,” she replied, per Fox News, as Karmelo Anthony cried.