Austin Metcalf’s heartbroken dad admits he feels sorry for son’s killer Karmelo Anthony — and reveals when he forgave him

Austin Metcalf’s grieving father admits he feels “sorry” for convict Karmelo Anthony and revealed he even forgave his son’s killer after the fatal stabbing.

“I feel sorry for him,” said Jeff Metcalf, adding that Anthony’s “life is pretty much ruined,” during an interview with ABC News broadcast Tuesday.

But he also said Anthony, 19, had “to be held accountable” for the murder of 17-year-old Metcalf at a school track meet in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025.

Jeff, 56, said he “forgave [Anthony] the first day it happened,” adding, “I had to. If I didn’t, I’d be eaten up. I’d be angry. I might go do something. I’d be looking for revenge.”

He was speaking after his son’s killer saw his request for a new trial denied by a judge on Saturday.

Here’s the latest on Karmelo Anthony’s appeal of his murder conviction:

• Judge makes decision on Karmelo Anthony’s request for a new trial
• Karmelo Anthony threatened to ‘shoot the school up’ in shocking text kept from jury in Austin Metcalf murder trial
• James Talarico accused of siding with teen killer after lamenting ‘there were no black members of the jury’ at his trial 
• Karmelo Anthony prosecutor reveals trove of evidence jury never saw — including disturbing texts

Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison in June after a jury rejected the defense’s “sudden passion” claim.

Neither Anthony’s lead appellate attorney, Russell Wilson II, nor the lead defense attorney during his criminal trial, Mike Howard, responded immediately to requests for comment.