Just one day after a Texas jury convicted Karmelo Anthony of murder in the fatal stabbing of high school athlete Austin Metcalf, the 19-year-old was transferred into state prison custody as his legal team began the appeals process.
According to Fox News, Anthony was convicted Tuesday and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the April 2, 2025, killing of Metcalf during a track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Following the verdict, Anthony was taken into custody and booked into the Collin County Jail. Fox News reported that he was initially housed in isolation within the jail’s infirmary.
By Wednesday, Anthony had been transferred to the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Officials said he was taken to the Pack Unit near Navasota to begin serving his sentence.
Court records show Anthony has already filed a notice of appeal challenging the conviction.
The case centered on the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf at a high school track meet. Anthony had remained free during the trial but was immediately taken into custody after jurors returned a guilty verdict.
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis and prosecutor Bill Wirskye spoke after the conviction, expressing confidence in the outcome and relief for Metcalf’s family.
“This was murder, plain and simple,” Wirskye said.
“I was relieved,” Willis said. “I was relieved for the family mostly.”
Though prosecutors said they felt strong about their case, Wirskye acknowledged there is always uncertainty before a verdict.
“I think there’s a doubt in every lawyer’s mind. In every case you try. However, we were very, very confident going in,” he said.
According to Wirskye, prosecutors believed the evidence consistently pointed away from claims involving race or self-defense.
“The fact of this case were very clear. Never had anything to do with race, never had anything to do with self-defense, really.”
“This case was never about race because that was our position from day one,” he added.
Wirskye noted that prosecutors called roughly 17 eyewitnesses during the trial and said their testimony painted a consistent picture of what happened.
“The jury quickly realized this case was never about race,” he said. “This case was about murder, plain and simple.”
The prosecutor also revealed he hoped Anthony would testify in his own defense, particularly because the defense argued self-defense.
“In many criminal cases, we never hear from the defendant,” Wirskye said. “I was hoping he would take the stand.”
Anthony ultimately chose not to testify before the defense rested its case.
Prosecutors said video evidence and eyewitness testimony proved particularly persuasive.
“I think when the jury finally saw the videotape,” Wirskye said. “I think that really reinforced to them that Karmelo Anthony wasn’t surrounded.”
He also pointed to testimony from one witness who described Anthony’s demeanor before the stabbing.
“He looked like a man who had a plan that was fixing to do something,” Wirskye said. “And I thought that spoke volumes to the jury about what Karmelo Anthony had in his mind.”
Anthony will be eligible for parole after serving half of his 35-year sentence.
Despite the lengthy prison term, Wirskye said he still hopes Anthony eventually learns from what happened.
“I hope one day the light goes on and he’ll realize he did the wrong thing, and he can live a productive and law-abiding life, either behind bars or not.”
