Austin Metcalf’s family is facing a new wave of fear after Karmelo Anthony was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of the 17-year-old at a Texas high school track meet. The courtroom chapter may have reached its end, but the public anger surrounding the case has continued to follow the family outside court.
According to reports, the Metcalf family has received dozens of hostile and threatening messages since the verdict. Sources familiar with the situation said the family had already dealt with disturbing messages after Anthony’s arrest, but the number and intensity grew after the jury found him guilty.
Some of the messages reportedly targeted Austin’s twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, who had already endured the trauma of losing his brother and later speaking in court during the victim impact portion of the sentencing hearing. The reported threats have raised new concerns about the family’s safety.
Other messages were described as cruel and deeply disturbing, with some people allegedly taunting the grieving family and making comments about showing up at their homes. Authorities have reportedly been made aware of the threats as concerns continue to grow.
The escalation comes after a trial that was already filled with emotion, public debate, and sharp division. Anthony was found guilty of first-degree murder after prosecutors argued that he fatally stabbed Austin during a confrontation at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Witnesses testified that the confrontation began near a team tent after Austin and others asked Anthony to leave the area. Prosecutors said Anthony escalated the situation, while the defense argued that he acted in self-defense during a chaotic moment.
During sentencing, Austin’s twin brother Hunter delivered one of the most emotional statements of the hearing. He spoke directly about losing not only his brother, but his best friend, and said Austin’s memory would live on long after the trial ended.
Austin’s parents also addressed Anthony in court, describing the loss that now defines their lives. His father spoke with anger and grief, while his mother said Anthony may have received 35 years in prison, but she had been given a lifetime without her son.
The new threats have made the aftermath even more painful for the Metcalf family. Instead of being allowed to grieve in peace after the verdict and sentence, they are now facing more fear from people still reacting to the case online and in public.
Anthony’s legal team is preparing an appeal, meaning the case may continue in court, but for Austin’s family, the damage has already been done. The threats now surrounding them show that the trial may be over, but the pain, division, and danger connected to the case have not disappeared.
