Austin Metcalf's father says there's no such thing as justice
Jeff Metcalf, father of Austin Metcalf, told ABC News there is "no such thing" as justice after a judge denied Karmelo Anthony a new trial in the fatal stabbing of his 17-year-old son. Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years for the April 2025 killing at a Frisco, Texas, track meet.
Key Takeaways
- Jeff Metcalf said the conviction and sentence cannot restore his family, calling their grief a "life sentence."
- Karmelo Anthony, now 19, was convicted of murder in June and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
- Retired Judge Michael Chitty denied Anthony's motion for a new trial; defense counsel plans an appeal.
- A recent hearing aired previously withheld background records on both Austin Metcalf and Anthony.
What did Austin Metcalf's father say about justice?
In an exclusive ABC News interview, Jeff Metcalf was asked whether he felt he received justice. "No. There's no such thing. I got handed a life sentence," he said.
He said the same applies to Austin's mother, Meghan Metcalf, twin brother Hunter Metcalf, and both families. "We don't ever get to see Austin again. We don't get to talk to him, hug him."
Metcalf described holidays and milestones now marked by absence—an empty seat at Christmas and Thanksgiving, missed graduations and birthdays, and a future as an aunt or uncle taken away. More coverage of similar cases lives in our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
Despite that pain, he expressed limited sympathy for Anthony's prison fate, saying Anthony still sees his family and that it is a tragedy his life is "pretty much ruined."
Metcalf was clear on accountability. "I don't feel sorry for what he did, though. He needs to be held accountable."
Why was Karmelo Anthony's motion for a new trial denied?
Anthony's attorneys argued at trial that he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors called the killing "unjustified" and "plain and simple murder." He was convicted in June and sentenced to 35 years.
After the verdict, new attorneys claimed Anthony was "coerced" into waiving his right to testify amid a dispute over an agreement limiting certain character evidence. They also alleged courtroom restrictions by Collin County Judge John Roach denied a fair trial.
Retired Kaufman County District Judge Michael Chitty, assigned after Roach was removed following a challenge to his impartiality, denied the new-trial motion on Saturday. Appellate attorney Russell Wilson said the team will continue an appeal in the Fifth Court of Appeals and "pursue every legal remedy available."
What new details emerged ahead of that ruling?
CBS News Texas reported that both sides used the new-trial hearing to discuss violent background material that had been kept from jurors under a private off-record agreement so the trial would focus on the Frisco track meet stabbing.
Defense filings cited school and juvenile records involving Austin Metcalf, including disciplinary issues and prior incidents. Prosecutors filed a lengthy character dossier on Anthony, including texts from the morning of April 2, 2025, girlfriend-related complaints that day, and messages about fighting, weapons, and threats.
Those records were drawn from police reports, school files, and phone extractions. They did not change the conviction before Chitty's denial, but they intensified public scrutiny of a case that still has no sense of closure for the Metcalf family.