Karmelo Anthony’s family speaks out : “The truth will come out”

The family of Karmelo Anthony, the Texas teen accused of fatally stabbing another teen, have spoken out.

Karmelo Anthony’s family speaks out

In the afternoon press conference on Thursday, April 17, Kayla Hayes, the mother of Karmelo Anthony, said her family has been “under attack” with threats and “false accusations,” and called for the legal process to play out.

Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old high student from Frisco, Texas, was charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, also 17, on April 2 at a championship track meet at Frisco ISD’s Kuykendall Stadium.

Anthony was released from jail and is on house arrest after posting bond on Monday, April 14.

Press conference details

Before the press conference began, Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeff, arrived at the headquarters of Next Generation Action Network, the Dallas-based advocacy group hosting the press conference on the family’s behalf.

Metcalf was reportedly escorted out without an incident.

Watch the press conference here

After about opening remarks from Next Generation’s president, Hayes said the family has been “under attack” in the wake of the stabbing, with threats and harassment.

On the narrative about her son

“Whatever you think what happened between Karmelo and the Metcalf boys, my three younger children, my husband and I didn’t do anything to deserve to be threatened, harassed and lied about,” Hayes said.

“The lies and false accusations that have been said about us, especially over the past week, has been overwhelming. The lies and their amplification put my family in danger.”

She also said Karmelo “deserves the same rights under the law that everyone is afforded.”

Hayes didn’t discuss what happened at the track meet further, affirming the legal process should be allowed to play out.

“We believe in the Constitution, we believe in the laws of this state, but those laws must apply to all of us, not just some of us,” she said.

“There’s an active investigation that everyone involved wants to be full and fair. We believe in the legal process and that is where the truth will come out.”

Addressing Metcalf’s family

Hayes also addressed Metcalf’s family through tears, thanking those from the victim’s family that has supported Anthony’s.

“To the family who experienced the loss, my heart truly goes out to you,” she said, through tears. “To those who have supported my family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Karmelo Anthony graduation

Anthony is set to graduate in May 2025. She also pleaded for the school to not expell her son and instead be allowed to finish his coursework from home so he can receive his diploma.

Fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony

A fundraiser set on the Anthony family’s behalf has raised more than $450,000.

Hayes said the family hasn’t received money from the fundraiser and was only notified yesterday that they were able to begin the withdrawal process.

Due to this factor, prosecutors reportedly lowered Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000.