Texas Teen Accused in Fatal Stabbing Sparks Outrage After Returning to Luxury Home
A Texas teenager charged in the deadly stabbing of a high school football player is back home—and the upscale setting is drawing sharp criticism.
Seventeen-year-old Karmelo Anthony is accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a confrontation at a Frisco track meet earlier this month. Anthony, initially held on a $1 million bond, is now out of jail after a judge reduced the amount to $250,000. But what’s raising eyebrows is where he’s staying.
Despite prior claims of financial hardship, Anthony has returned to a nearly $1 million rental home in the gated Richwoods community, where rent can run up to $3,500 a month. Residents say they were shocked to see the family come back so soon.
“This just doesn’t feel right,” said one concerned neighbor. “I don’t think he should be living here right now.” Another bluntly added, “They don’t seem to be struggling.”
The home is just blocks from Centennial High School, where Anthony was once a student-athlete. Neighbors noted multiple vehicles in the driveway, including what appears to be a recently purchased car with temporary tags.
The family’s visible affluence has become a flashpoint, especially as their GiveSendGo fundraiser—set up to support Anthony’s legal defense—has brought in more than $440,000. The page claims the teen acted in self-defense and that media coverage has been misleading.
Anthony’s attorney, Mike Howard, defended the campaign, saying the money is being used for legal fees, private security, and relocating the family due to safety concerns. “There are young children in the home. The entire family is under pressure,” he said.
Still, prosecutors questioned why the family hadn’t used the donations to post Anthony’s bond. In court, his parents explained the funds weren’t immediately accessible and had already been largely spent on legal costs.
Anthony is now under strict house arrest, monitored with an ankle bracelet, and must remain under constant adult supervision as he awaits trial.
The fatal incident, which occurred on April 2, reportedly started over a dispute about seating at the track meet. Anthony told police he feared for his safety and acted in self-defense. That claim remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, tensions in the community continue to rise. Some residents are calling for the family to move out, saying their presence is adding to the strain.
“It might be better for everyone if they weren’t here,” one neighbor said.
The case has sparked widespread debate—raising serious questions about how wealth, race, and crowdfunding influence the legal system, especially in cases involving violent crime.
