A Collin County court released trial footage as Anthony pursues an appeal.
Two significant developments in the Karmelo Anthony murder case emerged this week as a Texas court released previously sealed evidence from his trial while Anthony simultaneously filed paperwork requesting a publicly funded attorney to handle his appeal.
Karmelo, 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison earlier this month for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, 17, at a competitive track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. Collin County released the trial evidence Friday, making public a portion of the materials that were presented to the jury during the weeklong proceedings.
What the released evidence shows
The materials made available include body camera footage, security camera recordings, 911 calls and photographs of physical evidence gathered at the scene, among them the murder weapon and Anthony’s backpack.
Stadium surveillance footage captures the moments surrounding the stabbing, showing an individual believed to be Anthony leaving the bleacher area and running from the scene. In body camera footage recorded after his arrest, Karmelo can be heard telling officers nearby that he was not merely a suspect but that he had committed the act. Photographs released alongside the video include images of injuries Metcalf sustained, which were also shown to the jury during the trial.
Breaking the Collin County judge over the Karmelo Anthony murder trial has released evidence presented in the case. Below are photos of the actual knife used, Karmelo Anthony’s backpack, video of activity inside Memorial HS tent moments before stabbing, video spotlighting Karmelo… pic.twitter.com/hAhau24LWW
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 19, 2026
The appeal and the financial scrutiny
Shortly after his conviction on June 9, Anthony filed court paperwork seeking a court-appointed attorney for his appeal, citing a complete inability to fund legal representation on his own.
The request raised questions given that a fundraising campaign launched on GiveSendGo after his 2025 arrest collected more than $600,000 in donations, with organizers stating at the time that the funds were intended for his legal defense. After his conviction, the original campaign was removed from the platform. Within hours, a separate fundraiser specifically designated for appellate legal costs appeared, with Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, listed as the organizer. That campaign has since been made private and is no longer publicly accessible.
More evidence from Karmelo Anthony murder trial. Video still images of him and Austin Metcalf enter the stadium that morning separately. Also police body cam video which recorded Anthony saying “I’m not alleged, I did it” pic.twitter.com/UGKLIoAV0p
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 19, 2026
Separately, records indicate that members of Anthony’s family registered a Texas business less than a month after Metcalf’s death. No wrongdoing has been alleged in connection with that filing, and Anthony’s parents have not been accused of any misconduct.
Karmelo has stated his intention to appeal the conviction. His case drew intense national attention from the moment of his arrest and continued to generate significant public interest through the verdict and sentencing.
Here’s a longer clip from the security camera that recorded the stabbing. It shows the scene under the Memorial HS tent for more than a minute before it happened. pic.twitter.com/ldE8X0gIc1
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) June 19, 2026