Texas Teen Accused in Fatal Stabbing Lives in Gated Community Despite Pleas of Financial Hardship
The Texas teenager accused of fatally stabbing a fellow student-athlete is back home after posting a reduced bond — but the conditions of his release are raising eyebrows.
Karmelo Anthony, 17, who is facing murder charges in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf, was released from jail earlier this week after his $1 million bond was lowered to $250,000. His legal team had argued that the original amount was unreasonably high given the family’s alleged financial struggles.
Karmelo received more than $500,000 from online donations from people looking to support the young Black teen, who many believe was protecting himself from a racist bully.
However, a new report by the Daily Mail is casting doubt on those claims. According to the outlet, Anthony has returned to live with his family in a $900,000 home in the upscale Richwoods gated community in Frisco, Texas — a neighborhood known for its luxury amenities, security, and high-end homes.
A Life Behind the Gates
Photos show a pristine home complete with multiple vehicles in the driveway, including a white Suburban, a black Acura, and another unidentified sedan. One vehicle was reportedly sporting a temporary paper license plate with a June expiration date — prompting speculation from neighbors that it was a recent purchase.
“He got a new car,” one neighbor told the outlet. “If you look at the license plate, it’s got a paper tag and it says it expires June 4.”
Online property records show that homes in the Richwoods community can fetch prices well above $850,000, with some listings nearing $1.2 million. Rent estimates for homes of similar size and style in the neighborhood are around $3,500 to $4,000 per month.
The discrepancy between the family’s pleas of financial hardship and their current living situation has sparked public backlash and raised questions about how bond determinations are made — and whether they fairly reflect a defendant’s actual circumstances.
The Case So Far
Karmelo Anthony was arrested earlier this month after allegedly stabbing Austin Metcalf, a high school football standout, during a confrontation at a track meet. Details about the altercation remain under investigation, but witnesses say tensions escalated rapidly.
Anthony was initially held on a $1 million bond, but after a motion from his legal team, a judge agreed to lower it to $250,000 — a move that allowed his release earlier this week.
The case has garnered national attention due to the young ages of both the victim and the accused, as well as the setting: a school-related sporting event, where violence of this magnitude is extremely rare.
What Happens Next
Anthony is expected to remain under strict conditions of release, including travel restrictions and possible electronic monitoring. Prosecutors have not commented on the report about his living arrangements.
The Metcalf family, meanwhile, continues to call for justice for Austin, remembering him as a “kind, disciplined, and bright young man with a future ahead of him.”
As the legal process unfolds, questions remain about how wealth, perception, and privilege intersect in high-profile criminal cases — especially when teenagers are involved.