THE family of Karmelo Anthony lived an opulent lifestyle, sailing on lavish cruise vacations, enjoying extravagant dinners, and buying new cars before their son was arrested and charged with murder.
Drew Anthony, the 17-year-old’s father, routinely shared photos and videos on his Facebook account documenting his family’s latest adventure or lavish purchase.
“Cause I’m a gold member, I get special treatment, you dig,” the elder Anthony flaunted in a Facebook video as he and his wife enjoyed their room on board Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas, which featured a balcony.
“The boys [are] right next door,” Anthony says as he gives his followers a tour of their stay and the glamorous view of the Miami port.
In a separate video from the cruise holiday, Anthony showcases one of the family’s dinners, which included a table spread with lamb chops, steaks, and seafood.
“How is your cruise?” Anthony asks his wife, Kala Hayes, who responds, “It’s nice.”
Karmelo is also seen in the video munching on lamb chops.
In a separate video viewed by The U.S. Sun, Anthony boasts about his and his wife’s grand anniversary celebration in Las Vegas.
“Yeah, coming to you live, yes baby, happy anniversary to my beautiful baby,” Anthony said, standing on the balcony of their room with a view of the Sin City strip in the background.
Anthony then briefly exits the frame of the video before he returns with an Ace of Spades champagne, telling his followers, “This cost me about two grand, for my baby’s day.”
In the nearly five-minute video collage, the couple is seen riding in a private limousine and enjoying drinks at the minus5 ICEBAR.
In two separate photos shared on Anthony’s Facebook, Hayes is seen posing beside a pearly white GMC Yukon, and in another, posted last May, Karmelo is pictured sitting on the hood of a new Lexus with a red bow that reads “Happy Birthday.”
‘Killer’ Karmelo Anthony’s mom sobs & vows she didn’t get $450k raised for teen who ‘stabbed Austin Metcalf in heart’
Additional photos showed the family on the field for a Louisiana State University football game, where they posed for pictures with LSU players and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
HORRIFIC STABBING
However, the Anthony family’s life was upended and put under a microscope by the national media after Karmelo was arrested for allegedly stabbing Austin Metcalf, a student-athlete at Frisco Memorial High School, at a track meet.
The horrific incident unfolded on April 2 at the Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, about 42 minutes north of Dallas, when a confrontation between Karmelo and Metcalf, also 17, turned fatal.
Austin, a junior at Frisco Memorial High School, told Karmelo, who was a senior at Frisco Centennial High School, to move to the section of the track that was designated for students at Frisco Memorial, according to an arrest affidavit.
Karmelo allegedly reached inside his bag and told Austin, “Touch me and see what happened.”
Austin then grabbed him, to which Karmelo responded, “Punch me and see what happens,” police records said.
The Frisco Memorial High School student then reportedly grabbed Karmelo and again told him to move, which is when Karmelo pulled out a knife from his bag and allegedly stabbed Austin in the chest.
Austin died in his twin brother’s arms, according to a police report.
Karmelo, who has pleaded not guilty, told Frisco police that he acted in self-defense.
Anthony, Karmelo’s father, argued in court saying his son is an A student and is the captain of his football and track team.
Videos shared on Facebook by Karmelo’s uncle and grandmother showed the 17-year-old competing in track tournaments and on a football field for practice.
Karmelo was released on $250,000 bond on Monday and was put on house arrest.
SILENT PROTEST
A heartbroken Jeff Metcalf, Austin’s father, described how his son was killed over “something so small, so trivial.”
Metcalf silently stood in protest at a scheduled news briefing on Thursday that was hosted by the Anthony family and the advocacy group Next Generation Action Movement.
Both families engaged in a tense standoff as the Anthonys refused to speak to reporters until Metcalf left the building.
The briefing had been planned by the Next Generation Action Movement advocacy group to clear up rumors about an online fundraiser that’s amassed over $450,000 for the Anthony family.
However, the news conference was delayed after Metcalf refused to leave despite Next Generation trying to throw him out and threatening to call the police.
After over half an hour, Metcalf was escorted out by Frisco police.
The father, who had a sling on his right arm, shook hands with the officers before leaving.
We have endured death threats. My 13-year-old daughter is afraid to sleep in her own bedroom because she’s fearful of what might happen to her.
Kala Hayes, Karmelo Anthony’s mom
At the conference, Minister Dominique Alexander, the founder of Next Generation Action Movement, blasted Metcalf’s attendance as a “disrespect to the dignity of his son.”
“Regardless of what was going on, that was disrespectful,” said the pastor before going on a tirade about oppression.
Kala Haya, Karmelo’s mom, then gave a tearful statement and begged viewers to leave their family alone as the investigation into the fatal stabbing continues.
“We have endured death threats. My 13-year-old daughter is afraid to sleep in her own bedroom because she’s fearful of what might happen to her,” she cried.
Hayes then ripped into online critics, saying her family have not seen a cent of the donations and blasted claims that they’ve bought a new home with the cash.
“I don’t know why we have been targeted and discriminated against before a fair trial,” she said.
“Our son deserves the same rights under the law that everyone is afforded to.”
Hayes ended her statement by sending her condolences to the Metcalf family as she broke down in sobs.
“To the family that experienced the loss, my heart truly goes out to you,” she said.
“To those who have supported my family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
