Karmelo Sincere Anthony’s family has remained closely involved in his case since the 2025 death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. His parents, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, have spoken publicly throughout the proceedings, defending their son and challenging the fairness of his conviction.
Anthony was convicted of murder in June 2026 and sentenced to 35 years in prison after a jury rejected his self-defense claim. His legal team is now seeking a new trial. In August, the judge who presided over the original trial was removed from the case, giving the family another significant development to follow.
His Parents
Karmelo’s immediate family includes his mother, Kala Hayes, and father, Andrew Anthony.
Both parents have remained highly visible during the case. They have attended court proceedings, spoken with national media and continued to insist that their son did not intend to kill Metcalf.
Their public statements have focused largely on the family’s belief that Anthony acted in self-defense during the confrontation.
Kala Hayes
Kala Hayes has been one of her son’s strongest public defenders.
Following the conviction and 35-year sentence, she told CBS News that she did not believe her son was a murderer. Hayes maintained that Anthony was defending himself and said she believed testimony during the trial contained significant inconsistencies.
Her comments have remained consistent since the verdict. Rather than accepting the prosecution’s version of events, Hayes has continued to support the defense’s position and the family’s effort to challenge the conviction.
She has also described the emotional impact of watching her son receive a lengthy prison sentence.
Andrew Anthony
Andrew Anthony has also spoken openly about the family’s experience.
After the verdict, he said the family believed the court system would provide a fair trial but ultimately felt disappointed by the process. He also argued that public opinion had already formed a judgment about his son before the jury reached its decision.
At the same time, Andrew acknowledged the suffering experienced by both families. In an interview with CBS News, he said that “nobody wins” following the tragedy.
His comments have generally combined criticism of the legal proceedings with recognition of the loss experienced by the Metcalf family.
His Siblings
Karmelo Anthony also has younger siblings, although the family has kept many details about them private.
Their privacy became especially important after the case attracted enormous attention online. According to reports, Anthony’s parents said they had to remove their other children from school because of concerns about their safety amid threats and harassment directed at the family.
That decision illustrates how the case affected people who were not involved in the confrontation itself.
The younger members of the Anthony family have therefore largely remained outside the spotlight.
Life Under Scrutiny
The Anthony family has faced extraordinary public attention since the case began.
The incident quickly became a national story, with discussions extending beyond the courtroom into debates about race, self-defense and the treatment of the two families.
Threats and harassment became an additional concern. CBS News has reported that both the Anthony and Metcalf families faced threats, doxxing and swatting-related incidents during the controversy.
For the Anthony family, the publicity has meant dealing with the case while also protecting relatives who had no role in the events at the track meet.
The Fundraiser
The family’s finances also became the subject of online speculation.
A GiveSendGo campaign associated with Kala Hayes raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the family’s legal and relocation needs. Viral claims later alleged that donated money had been used improperly to purchase a house and vehicle.
Those claims were disputed by fact-checking and information from GiveSendGo. Snopes reported that the platform confirmed the family had not withdrawn the funds in the manner alleged by the viral posts.
The controversy added another layer of public scrutiny to an already intensely followed case.
The Legal Fight
The family has continued to support Anthony’s attorneys as they challenge the conviction.
The defense filed a motion for a new trial and separately sought the removal of State District Judge John Roach Jr. from post-trial proceedings. The arguments included concerns about judicial impartiality and procedures used during the original case.
The defense has also raised questions about evidence and information that was not presented to the original jury.
The prosecution has disputed key elements of the defense’s arguments and maintains that the original trial was properly conducted.
Judge Removed
A major development came on August 19, 2026, when Judge Roach was recused from the case.
The defense had pointed to comments Roach made in a television interview following the verdict, including his statement that the jurors had “got it right.” Defense attorneys argued that such remarks raised questions about whether he could remain impartial while considering post-trial matters.
Visiting Judge Sid Harle granted the recusal request, and retired Judge Michael B. Chitty was assigned to consider Anthony’s request for a new trial.
The decision does not overturn Anthony’s conviction. It changes who will oversee the next stage of the legal proceedings.
New Evidence
The August hearings have also brought previously undisclosed background information into public view.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys had previously agreed to keep certain character and background information away from the original jury. The agreement was intended, in part, to prevent an already racially charged case from becoming even more inflammatory.
During the new-trial proceedings, both sides have begun presenting some of that information. The defense argues that restrictions surrounding the evidence affected Anthony’s ability to present his case fully. Prosecutors maintain that the original approach was appropriate.
Whether those arguments ultimately justify a new trial remains for the court to decide.
Where His Family Stands
As of August 22, 2026, Karmelo Anthony remains convicted and is serving a 35-year sentence while his legal challenge moves forward.
His parents continue to support him publicly, while his younger siblings have largely been kept away from media attention.
The family has also continued to attend hearings and rally supporters around the effort for a new trial. CBS News reported that Anthony’s parents were present during the August proceedings alongside members of the wider community.
Karmelo Anthony’s immediate family includes his parents, Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, and his younger siblings.
Kala has consistently maintained that her son acted in self-defense, while Andrew has criticized aspects of the trial and emphasized the pain experienced by both families.
Their other children have remained private, particularly after the family reported safety concerns and online harassment.
The family’s legal fight is still active. The removal of Judge John Roach and assignment of Judge Michael Chitty represent important procedural developments, but Karmelo Anthony’s conviction has not been overturned and a new trial has not been granted.
