Austin Metcalf’s father accuses media pundits of monetizing son’s death
Austin Metcalf’s father speaks out about son’s murder and Karmelo Anthony’s conviction
Jeff Metcalf, father of slain 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, shares his perspective on newly released evidence and the outcome of the case. Metcalf criticizes the media for politicizing her son’s murder and turning the incident into a racist narrative, emphasizing that character is more important than race. He also discusses his family’s ongoing recovery and the profound impact Austin had on his twin brother.
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Jeff Metcalf, the father of slain 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, accused some experts of trying to “cash in” on his son’s death and revealed whether the family of convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony should apologize.
“They’re looking for their 15 minutes of fame, or clickbait, or clicks. They’re just looking to make money off of my son’s death,” Metcalf told “The Will Cain Show” on Monday.
His comments come as newly emerging evidence paints a clearer picture of the moments before and after the fatal stabbing in 2025.
In police body camera footage from the day of the stabbing, as an officer handcuffs Anthony and calls him the “alleged suspect,” Anthony responds: “I’m not to blame. I did it.”
THE SUSPECT, WHO WAS STABBED WHEN MEETING TEXAS TRACK, TOLD THE INTERVENING POLICE THAT ‘HE DID THIS’: DOCUMENTS
Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice; Jeff Metcalf)
Metcalf responds to ‘The View’ co-host Sunny Hostin’s comments early on mondayWhen he said he couldn’t understand why Anthony’s case wasn’t determined as self-defense.
“I wish they had never talked about this because if that woman said that, she has no idea about the facts of the case but she wants to make it public on a platform that reaches millions of people every day,” he said.
“He’s completely wrong,” she added, offering to appear on “The View” to discuss her son’s murder.
KARMELO ANTHONY’S LEGITIMATE DEFENSE CLAIM MAY DEFINE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE’S MURDER CASE BY STABBING: ANALYST
Austin Metcalf’s murder trial has become a national racial debate; Many in the media supported the defense’s claim that Anthony acted in self-defense when he stabbed 17-year-old Metcalf at a track meet in April 2025.
Anthony was convicted of first-degree murder earlier this month and sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Jeff Metcalf, father of Austin Metcalf, who was brutally stabbed to death by convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony, spoke with Fox News Digital. (Matthew Symons/Jeff Metcalf for Fox News Digital)
Jeff Metcalf criticized those who politicized his son’s murder or framed it from a racist perspective, saying he never wanted this to happen.
“The two things I said in one of the first interviews I did were: ‘Please don’t make this about race, please don’t politicize it,'” he said. “But they chose to do both.”
The elder Metcalf expressed disappointment that the case had become so race-driven, telling host Will Cain that skin color was an irrelevant factor in his son’s murder.
“We don’t see color. So the only thing I see in people is character. I don’t care what color you are,” the father said. “I want to judge you by how you treat people.”
AUSTIN METCALF’S FATHER EXPRESSES EMPATHY FOR KARMELO ANTHONY AS MURDERER’S FAMILY SAYS ‘THEY DID US A NUMBER’
Metcalf showed some empathy for her son’s killer as she described how Anthony’s parents left him alone in the courtroom during a sensitive time in the trial.
A court sketch shows Karmelo Anthony during his trial in Collin County, Texas, where he was found guilty of murder in the 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf on June 9, 2026. (Pat Lopez)
“As soon as the verdict was read he was guilty, his family and some other lawyers left the courtroom and turned in their badges,” he told Fox News.
“They weren’t there for sentencing and they weren’t there for victim impact statements. They left that poor kid there all alone.”
Metcalf also revealed whether Anthony’s family has reached out to apologize.
“Have you ever talked to the Anthonys?” Cain asked.
“No,” Metcalf replied.
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“No apology, no regret?” Cain replied.
“Nothing,” said Metcalf.
The father also reflected on the memory of his son Austin, remembering him as a “God-fearing” leader more than a year after his death.
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“He had compassion. He showed love,” she explained. “He was always helping. He was always helping his teammates, always helping the younger kids transitioning from middle school to high school football. He would go and talk to them and tell them what to expect. He would coach them in the weight room.”
“So this is a trauma that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.”
