In emotional victim impact statements delivered after Karmelo Anthony was sentenced to 35 years for the killing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco track meet, the courtroom heard from multiple members of the Metcalf family as they described grief, anger, and the lasting impact of the loss.

Austin’s mother, Meghan Metcalf, spoke about the daily reality of living without her son and the emotional weight that never fades.

“Now my conversations with him are one-sided, sitting at his grave,” Meghan Metcalf said. “… I have to accept that instead of walking beside me, he’s walking above me.”

She described the constant reminders of absence in their home. “Going into an empty room, empty bed, and once again remembering Austin is dead,” she said.

Meghan remembered her son’s personality, calling him a “morning kid” and a “hugger,” and said he “always had a way of bringing people together. He was a peacemaker.”

She also addressed the nature of his death directly. “My son was murdered. He didn’t just die,” she said, adding that living with the loss is what hurts most each day.

Reflecting on her children, she said, “From the moment my boys were born, they were my world,” and added, “Now my house is quiet.”

Remembering Austin’s presence in their lives, she said, “Austin’s laughter would fill the room.” She also said, “Seeing my twin (Hunter) lose the most important person in his life crushes his mother.”

Turning directly to Anthony, she said, “You should feel lucky, because I’ve been sentenced to a lifetime without my son.”

Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, also delivered a deeply emotional statement, directly confronting Anthony and responding to broader reactions surrounding the case.

Jeff described his son as “boy, twin, son, leader, true warrior,” recalling memories from Austin’s childhood, including moments of him “grabbing his finger as a baby,” “catching his first fish,” and “taking his first buck.”

He said, “Watching him grow up through the years went way too fast,” and praised his athletic promise, adding, “I truly believe you had a great career ahead of you,” and “Your intensity on the field showed the leader you were.”

He also explained the family’s efforts to honor Austin’s memory, saying they created a scholarship in his name “so people know what it’s like to be a leader.”

Jeff said the hardest part was the stolen future, stating, “The saddest part is we don’t get to see you achieve all your goals… We were robbed.”

Turning directly toward Anthony during his statement, Jeff demanded he look up and called him “despicable.” He also condemned public reactions to the case, saying, “The public’s response sickens me… The moral decay is frightening.”

He insisted, “Please don’t make it about race,” directly addressing and rejecting claims circulating around the case. He also criticized repeated harassment against his family, including swatting incidents, saying the aftermath of the trial had extended their suffering far beyond the courtroom.

Jeff said his son’s death fundamentally changed him: “My son’s death didn’t just break my heart; it broke my nervous system… People will think grief is sadness; it’s not, it’s rage. Pure unfiltered rage.”

He directly confronted Anthony again, saying, “You failed your parents, you failed yourself, and you failed society… You don’t belong in this community,” and accused him of avoiding eye contact while committing the act that led to Austin’s death.

He ended his statement: “RIP Austin Metcalf, love pops.”

Austin’s twin brother, Hunter Metcalf, also addressed the court, speaking about losing not only a sibling but his closest friend and future support system.

“You took a son, a brother, a friend, my best friend from this world,” he said. “… You took someone away from me who was supposed to be an uncle to my kids… Now I want everything taken from you.”

He added that the loss would shape the rest of his life and said his brother’s memory would outlast public attention on the case.

“You let the devil take over in that moment,” he said. “… Eventually your name will be forgotten, but my brother’s memory will live on.”

He ended by describing their shared values of loyalty, respect, and kindness.

Austin’s aunt, Marlee Needham, also gave a statement describing the emotional permanence of the loss.

“There’s a void in our family that can never be filled,” she said, adding, “This is not a story. This is our reality, and we will live with this loss forever.”

She said the family continues to rely on faith despite ongoing pain, and described Austin as someone who loved spending time with family and caring for younger children.

After the sentencing, Anthony’s mother, Kala, and his brother criticized the outcome, calling it “racist and biased,” while supporters outside the courthouse chanted, “Free Karmelo.”