The father of Austin Metcalf expressed sympathy for his son’s killer in a recent interview, but insisted his family is the one who got a “life sentence.”
Karmelo Anthony was found guilty of murdering Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison, but the young victim’s father believes that the conviction does not necessarily mean justice was done.
Watch:
The father of Austin Metcalf, Jeff Metcalf, told ABC News he does not believe the conviction and prison sentence for Karmelo Anthony can bring his family justice. pic.twitter.com/xmy0G04YSr
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 25, 2026
“Did you get justice?” the GMA interviewer asked Jeff Metcalf.
“No. There’s no such thing. I got handed a life sentence,” he replied, pointing out that everyone in the family had been “sentenced” to never seeing Austin Metcalf again. “We don’t get to talk to him, we don’t get to hug him.”
“This guy, he still gets to see his family,” he continued, referring to Anthony. “It’s a tragedy that he has to be in prison. I feel sorry for him just due to the fact that his life is pretty much ruined. I don’t feel sorry for what he did, though. He needs to be held accountable.”
In the same interview, he also revealed that he had already forgiven Anthony on “the first day it happened.”
“Had to. If I didn’t, I’d be eaten up. I’d be angry. I might go do something,” he admitted. “I’d be looking for revenge. What if I lost control of my emotions? What if I found him and killed him?”
He also called out the people who believe that the convicted killer didn’t receive a fair trial, calling them “sheep” who “will believe whatever they are told.”
X users reacted:
I would agree. His son was killed in cold blood, in front of witnesses.
Life without parole or the death penalty.— Always Question! (@TS199052) August 25, 2026
Well that works out because the murderer did not get life he got a very lenient sentence for murder of his son.
It’s too bad that the re-trial did not happen, the kid would’ve gotten the death penalty.
— J.W. de Nashville (@C130GuyBNA) August 25, 2026
It’s understandable that Jeff Metcalf feels the conviction and prison sentence won’t bring justice to his family.
— Megan Wright (@MegWright425) August 25, 2026
No parent should ever have to bury their child. Jeff Metcalf’s ability to forgive while still demanding accountability shows an incredible amount of strength.
— CLASSY TOURS (@taylor77carter) August 25, 2026
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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