In a heart-wrenching plea for leniency, Kala Hayes, the mother of Karmelo Anthony, addressed a Texas jury on Tuesday. Her emotional appeal came in the wake of her 19-year-old son’s conviction for the murder of Austin Metcalf, another teenager.
“I am asking for mercy for my son,” Hayes implored during the emotionally charged sentencing phase.
“Karmelo is my firstborn,” she shared with tears in her eyes. “He will always be my baby. My love for him is immense.”
“I know my son regrets his actions deeply,” Hayes added, reinforcing her belief in his remorse.
Anthony faces a potential sentence of up to 99 years in prison following the fatal stabbing that occurred during a track meet in Frisco on April 2, 2025.
Here’s the latest on Karmelo Anthony’s murder trial following the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf
READ: Prosecutors Grant Unbelievable Legal Break: Karmelo Anthony’s Hail Mary Moment
The jury, after hearing final arguments from both the defense and prosecution, took less than three hours to deliberate before determining Anthony’s fate.
The swift guilty verdict followed a racially fraught trial where prosecutors eviscerated Anthonyâs self-defense claims, emphasizing that he brought a deadly weapon to a high school sporting event and refused to walk away.
