In a new interview since a judge denied a request for a new trial for his son’s killer, Jeff Metcalf is opening up about the devastating aftermath of the tragedy that shattered his family.
Speaking with ABC News, Metcalf shared that even with the legal developments, he doesn’t believe the conviction of Karmelo Anthony—who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the 2025 fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf—can truly bring justice.
“No. There’s no such thing. I got handed a life sentence,” Metcalf said when asked if he felt he had received justice.
“So did Meghan, Hunter. So did everybody else in my family and her family,” he continued, referring to Austin’s mother and twin brother. “We don’t ever get to see Austin again. We don’t get to talk to him, hug him.”
In a candid and emotional conversation, Metcalf navigated the complex grief of losing his child. While he stated that he has forgiven Anthony, he also expressed a desperate hope that no other parent has to endure such a nightmare. He addressed the controversy surrounding racially charged language he used after the trial, admitting it was not “my finest moment,” though he maintained that the “other side” was responsible for injecting race into a case that drew national attention.
As Anthony, now 19, continues to fight his conviction, Metcalf reflected on the crushing reality of a future without his son.
“There’s an empty seat at Christmas, Thanksgiving. Unwrapped packages. Graduations, missed. Birthdays. Being an aunt or an uncle. All taken away,” he said.
During the trial, the jury was presented with body camera footage in which Anthony could be heard saying, “I did it.” Because of this, Metcalf explained, it was “really never about guilt or innocence. It was about how long you’re going to do.”
Despite the immense pain his family has suffered, Metcalf revealed he feels a complicated sympathy for the teenager responsible for his son’s death.
“He still gets to see his family. It’s a tragedy he has to be in prison. I feel sorry for him,” Metcalf said. “Just through the fact that his life is pretty much ruined.”
However, he was firm on the necessity of consequences. “I don’t feel sorry for what he did, though. He needs to be held accountable.”