Karmelo Anthony's Parents: Mom Kayla Hayes and Dad Andrew Anthony Speak Out

Kayla Hayes and Andrew Anthony are the parents of convicted killer Karmelo Anthony. Anthony's mom and dad have been the focal point of some controversy during the course of the tragic case, and they have spoken out publicly in defense of their son.

Anthony, now 19, was convicted of murder by a jury in the stabbing death of high school athlete Austin Metcalf, 17. He was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison. The jury rejected Anthony's argument that he acted in self-defense, and Metcalf's mom, dad, and twin brother delivered emotional victim impact statements in court.

Karmelo Anthony's Mom, Kayla Hayes, Testified at the Sentencing, 'I Love Him Very Much'

Anthony's mom, Kayla Hayes, was the only person who testified for the defense at her son's sentencing, according to CBS News.

"He's my oldest, he's my firstborn," she said. "He will always be my baby. I love him very much."

"Does your son regret what he did?" the defense asked, per CBS.

"Yes, he's very sorry for what he did," Hayes said. She added, "Please have mercy on my son."

Karmelo Anthony's Grandmother Shouted at the Crowd, Video Shows

Karmelo Anthony's grandmother shouts ‘Racist!' and riles up crowd after his guilty verdict as she leaves court in luxury car https://t.co/dzQjrDLRtEpic.twitter.com/GfN5uMH7HG

— New York Post (@nypost) June 10, 2026

Anthony's grandmother Toni Hayes was captured on video shouting "Racist! Bias!" as she left the courthouse complex.

When Anthony's supporters shouted back support, she said, according to The New York Post, "Send that message that they can do whatever."

She then formed her hands in a heart.

Karmelo Anthony's Dad, Andrew Anthony, Has Also Spoken Out in Support of His Son

Karmelo Anthony's dad has also given supportive comments about his son, saying, "He works two jobs. He's an A student, has a 3.7 GPA. Everyone has already made their assumptions about my son, but he's not what they're making him out to be."

Andrew Anthony argued in an interview with The New York Post, "He was not the aggressor. He was not the one who started it," but ultimately the jury did not agree with him.

The Karmelo Anthony Family Pushed Back at Social Media Claims That They Bought a House With Crowdfunding Money

One persistent claim on social media is that Karmelo Anthony's family used hundreds of thousands of dollars donated through a GiveSendGo account to purchase a house and car. But that claim is false, according to Snopes.

Although the family does have a fundraiser on GiveSendGo, they had not yet drawn any money from the account, Snopes reported. Snopes quoted Anthony's mom as saying that the claims the family profited from the account were "completely false."

However, TMZ reported that the page, which was created by Hayes, has now been shut down due to Anthony's conviction. It raised more than $600,000. TMZ reported that the funds were designated for "legal defense and family relocation," adding, "according to GiveSendGo the funds have been distributed over the past year for said purposes."

According to KERA News, Hayes told reporters previously, "My 13-year-old daughter is afraid to sleep in her own bedroom because she is fearful of what might happen to her." The family moved out of their house due to threats, the site reported.

Austin Metcalf's Family Also Created a GoFundMe Page After the Murder

Metcalf's family also opened a GoFundMe account that has raised almost $600,000.

"I am Jeff Metcalf. My son, Austin Metcalf, was tragically stabbed today at a school track meet. They were not able to save him. He was a bright young man with a great future ahead of him. He was a leader of men," Austin's dad wrote on the GoFundMe.

"His smile would light up the room. His passion for football was unbelievable. Voted team MVP this past season and carried a 4.0 GPA. He was looking forward to taking his game to the next level. His commitment, dedication, leadership, and sheer grit made him rise to the level of success that he desired," he added.

"His twin brother, Hunter, played beside him. We will all remember him for the way he impacted others' lives. I love you forever, son. It's not goodbye, it's see you later. God will take care of us till we meet again. RIP. Love, Dad."

Related:

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 2:40 PM.