U.S. News

Karmelo Anthony Was Sentenced to 35 Years for the Frisco Track Meet Stabbing

By Mike Harper · June 10, 2026

The jury that convicted Karmelo Anthony of murder on Tuesday afternoon was back by Tuesday night with his sentence: 35 years.

Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the April 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco. The jury deliberated for approximately four hours on the sentence after spending less than three on the verdict itself. He was remanded immediately to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

The critical question in the punishment phase was “sudden passion” — a Texas legal finding that would have reduced the sentencing range from 5-99 years down to 2-20. The defense argued that Anthony acted in the heat of the moment after being physically confronted. The jury rejected that argument.

District Attorney Bill Wirskye had been direct about why.

“Sudden passion does not apply when the murderer is the provoker.”

Wirskye closed his punishment argument by pointing to the Metcalf family sitting in the courtroom.

“There were many life sentences handed out. Meghan Metcalf life sentence. Jeff Metcalf life sentence. Hunter Metcalf life sentence.”

“Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”

Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, addressed the jury during the punishment phase with five words.

“Have mercy on my son.”

Austin Metcalf’s twin brother Hunter — who had been barred from the courtroom during the trial because he was listed as a potential witness — was present for the sentencing. He never testified. He watched the verdict instead.

Anthony will be eligible for parole consideration after serving half his sentence. He will be 54 years old. Austin Metcalf was 17 when he died.