Karmelo Anthony, 19, a high school student, was found guilty on Tuesday of the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during an inter-school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025.

Following the verdict, attention has turned to the defense strategy used throughout the case, including decisions made by Anthony’s legal team and his family, represented in part by former Dallas public defender Mike Howard. The case has also drawn public scrutiny due to a fundraising campaign on GiveSendGo that reportedly raised more than $600,000 to support Anthony’s legal defense.

A major point of discussion has been whether Anthony’s family, particularly his mother Kayla Hays, opted to proceed to trial instead of accepting a plea deal. Some commentators have suggested that a plea agreement could have resulted in a significantly shorter sentence, while a conviction at trial may lead to life imprisonment.

However, there is no confirmed evidence that Karmelo Anthony was ever formally offered a plea deal. While social media discussions have speculated about possible negotiations, it remains unclear whether any official plea offer was made at all.

Because of this uncertainty, claims circulating online that Anthony’s parents rejected a plea deal in order to continue fundraising efforts have been widely described as unverified. Similar rumors, including allegations about misuse of campaign funds such as purchasing property, have also been fact-checked and disputed.

Public commentary around the case has intensified, including posts from media figures such as conservative commentator Matt Walsh, who suggested that avoiding a plea deal may have helped sustain fundraising activity. These claims, however, remain opinion-based and not confirmed by court records.

Separately, Anthony’s mother, Kayla Hays, addressed the court during proceedings before the verdict was delivered. According to FOX4 reports, she asked jurors to “show mercy” and stated that her son was “sorry for what he did.”

Her testimony was followed by emotional cross-examination, where prosecutors contrasted her statements with the loss experienced by Austin Metcalf’s family. At one point, she was asked whether she still loved her son and whether she understood he would remain part of her life regardless of the outcome.

“Yes, I do,” she responded, according to Fox News, as Anthony was seen crying in court.

With the guilty verdict now delivered, the case continues to move forward as attention shifts toward sentencing and further legal proceedings.