Karmelo Anthony Parents: Meet Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony, the Family Fighting to Overturn His Murder Conviction

Karmelo Anthony was born to Kala Hayes and Andrew Anthony in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, around 2006. The Texas teenager was convicted of murder in June 2026 for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet and sentenced to 35 years in prison. His parents have remained publicly supportive of their son, insisting he acted in self-defense and vowing to continue fighting his conviction through the appeals process.

Kala Hayes: The Mother Who Testified for Mercy

Kala Hayes is Karmelo’s mother. She has been described as a stay-at-home mom who tends to keep a lower profile than her husband. During Karmelo’s sentencing phase, Hayes was the only person who testified for the defense.

“He’s my oldest, he’s my firstborn,” Hayes said on the stand. “He will always be my baby. I love him very much.” When asked if her son regretted what happened, she replied: “Yes, he’s very sorry for what he did.” She then pleaded with the jury: “Please have mercy on my son.”

Hayes has consistently maintained that Karmelo did not intend to kill anyone. “My son is no murderer,” she said in an interview with CBS News. “My son didn’t intend to hurt anyone. My son was defending himself, and that’s what hurts so bad.”

She also expressed regret about not being at the track meet the day of the stabbing. “I regret not being there for my child,” she told The Root.

Andrew Anthony: The Father Who Calls It a “Nightmare”

Andrew Anthony III is Karmelo’s father. He previously worked as a General Sales Manager at Pegasus Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, though his current employment is not listed publicly.

Andrew has been the more vocal of the two parents. He described the situation as a “nightmare” in interviews following his son’s conviction. “We’re in a nightmare. It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “We’ve been up all night crying and praying.”

He has repeatedly expressed frustration with the legal process. “We were delusional,” Andrew said. “We thought we were going to get a fair shake.” He also accused witnesses of lying during the trial: “Everyone lied on the stand. All of the witnesses’ statements were inconsistent. All of them.”

Andrew has also spoken about the harassment the family has faced. “People want us dead,” he said. “After they still got what they wanted… they still want us dead. I go look at my phone, people want us dead. They want our family dead.”

The Family’s Reaction to the Verdict

Both parents have maintained that Karmelo did not receive a fair trial. In their first interview after the verdict on The Breakfast Club, they described the pain of watching their son’s face spread across media outlets while he was still a minor.

Andrew said he felt the court of public opinion had convicted his son before the trial even began. “He was convicted when he walked out of the jail,” he said. “If you look at the news, he was already convicted. It was already done. There was no ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ he was already guilty.”

The family also noted they were doxxed and faced threats from people who showed up at their home.

Business Records and Financial Scrutiny

Fox News Digital reviewed public records showing that Karmelo’s parents, Andrew Anthony III and Kala Hayes, have been connected to multiple business entities in Louisiana and Texas. Louisiana records show Angelic Obsessions LLC was formed in July 2021 and became inactive after being revoked in November 2024. Texas records show the same company became active in Texas on April 26, 2025, 24 days after the fatal stabbing. The filing lists Andrew Anthony III as the registered agent. Another entity, Exclusive Luxury Services LLC, was formed in 2016 and experienced multiple administrative actions before becoming inactive in 2023.

Andrew Anthony III declined to comment on the business records. His parents have not been accused of any wrongdoing or charged with a crime.

The Fight Continues

Karmelo Anthony’s bid for a new trial was denied in August 2026 by Judge Michael Chitty. His legal team said they are “disappointed” but “not deterred,” and plan to take the issues to appellate courts.

Throughout the process, Karmelo’s parents have attended hearings and stood by their son. They were in the courtroom during the August 2026 retrial hearing, where Karmelo appeared in a green prison jumpsuit. Andrew described the ongoing struggle as something he “wouldn’t want any parents to experience.”

Karmelo’s grandmother, Toni Hayes, was also present at the sentencing, where she was heard chanting that the trial was “racist, biased” and “prejudiced.” She said the family would continue to fight for justice.