A Texas teenager charged with the deadly stabbing of a high school football standout is now back home—but the setting is raising eyebrows.
Seventeen-year-old Karmelo Anthony, accused of fatally stabbing fellow student Austin Metcalf during a heated dispute at a Frisco track meet earlier this month, is currently out on bond. But according to local reports, he’s residing in a high-end gated neighborhood—inside a nearly $1 million home—despite prior court claims of financial hardship.
Anthony was initially being held on a $1 million bond at the Collin County Jail. But after his attorneys argued the amount was excessive, a judge reduced it to $250,000. Following his release, the teen returned to a rental home in the affluent Richwoods community, where rents reportedly hover around $3,500 a month.
Residents say they were caught off guard when the Anthony family went back home. One mother in the neighborhood told reporters, “This doesn’t sit right. I don’t think he should be back here.” Another local said bluntly, “These folks are clearly not struggling financially.”
The luxury residence—less than a mile from Centennial High School, where Anthony was once a student-athlete—had three vehicles parked in the driveway this week, including what neighbors say is a recently purchased car with temporary tags.
The family’s visible lifestyle has become a point of contention, especially as they continue to raise funds through a GiveSendGo campaign, which as of Wednesday had pulled in over $440,000. The page claims the teen acted in self-defense and that online narratives have been “false and damaging.”
Anthony’s lawyer, Mike Howard, says the funds are necessary to help the family relocate and pay for private security, in addition to legal fees. “They’re under immense pressure,” he said. “There are younger children in the house, and safety is a concern.”
Despite the flood of donations, prosecutors questioned why the family hadn’t used the money to cover Anthony’s bond. In court, the teen’s parents explained that accessing the funds wasn’t straightforward, and that much of it had already gone toward legal representation.
Now under strict house arrest, Anthony is being monitored with an ankle bracelet and is required to remain under 24/7 adult supervision until his case goes to trial.
The April 2 altercation that led to Metcalf’s death reportedly began over seating at the meet. Anthony allegedly told police he feared for his safety and reacted in self-defense—a claim that remains under investigation.
As tensions grow in the community, many residents are calling for the family to move. “Honestly, it would probably be better for everyone,” one neighbor remarked.
The case has sparked a fierce public debate—raising tough questions about the fairness of the justice system, the role of public fundraising, and how wealth can shape outcomes even in the most serious of legal matters.
