The proceedings have not only reignited a contentious, racially-charged debate that first erupted on social media after the April 2025 killing, but have renewed calls for Anthony, now 19, to receive the death penalty.
Anthony, like Metcalf, was 17 at the time of the stabbing. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2005 that executing anyone for a crime committed while under the age of 18 constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment,” making Anthony ineligible for a death sentence under federal law.
His age aside, Texas prosecutors can seek the death penalty only in capital murder cases involving specific aggravating circumstances, such as kidnapping or sexual assault. Anthony was charged with murder, not capital murder.
If convicted, he could face a sentence ranging anywhere from 5 to 99 years or life in prison.