“Sweet Boy” vs. “Dead Boy”: The Disturbing PR Campaign Trying to Save a Murderer

In the quiet suburbs of Dallas-Fort Worth, the tragic murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf has become a battleground of perception. While the Metcalf family continues to endure the crushing silence of a life stolen, the camp of convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony is launching a full-scale offensive to reshape history.

The “Sweet Boy” Narrative Valeria Perez, Anthony’s 19-year-old high school sweetheart, has become the face of this effort. Following Anthony’s 35-year sentencing, Perez took to social media to share intimate photos of the couple—ice skating, celebrating, and engaging in lighthearted domestic life. Her message was clear: she wants the world to ignore the courtroom verdict and instead see the boy she loves.

By labeling a convicted first-degree murderer her “sweet boy,” Perez is participating in a dangerous form of emotional gaslighting. It is a calculated effort to strip away the “predator” label and replace it with the “misunderstood child” persona. It is a narrative that ignores the autopsy reports, the tactical knife, and the 15 warnings the jury deemed critical to their guilty verdict.

The “Both Sides” Trap The narrative is being further amplified by figures like Bruce Johnson, who recently told reporters that “both boys were babies” and that Anthony “lost a portion of his life too.”

This “both-sides-ism” is an insult to the victim’s family. It seeks to equate a boy who died protecting his team tent with the boy who arrived with a weapon. It is a rhetoric designed to dilute moral accountability. In the world of the “Anthony PR machine,” murder is just a “scary situation for somebody as young as her,” and a 35-year prison sentence is just an inconvenient delay for a star athlete.

The Money and the PR This PR push isn’t happening in a vacuum. With a $625,000 defense fund and rumors of a celebrity-backed “Dream Team” for his appeal, Anthony’s camp is spending millions to win in the court of public opinion what they couldn’t win in a court of law. Every “sweet boy” post and every “both sides” quote is part of an orchestrated effort to tire the public out, to make them forget the facts, and to eventually push for a retrial that they believe money can buy.

But the Metcalf family, supported by an increasingly vocal community, refuses to be silenced. They don’t have PR teams or celebrity influencers. They have the truth. And as the appeal process looms, the public must decide: Are we going to let a love story and a “sweet boy” Instagram filter overwrite the murder of an innocent teenager?

Austin Metcalf’s dad says Karmelo Anthony shouldn’t have graduated

Texas Teen Stands by Convicted Killer Karmelo Anthony Boyfriend After 35-Year Sentence in Fatal High School Stabbing

DALLAS — In the aftermath of a Texas jury’s decision to sentence 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the stabbing death of fellow teenager Austin Metcalf, Anthony’s girlfriend has publicly expressed unwavering support, sparking intense backlash on social media.
Valeria Perez, also 19, posted a series of personal photographs and an emotional message shortly after Anthony’s conviction and sentencing on June 9.

The images depicted the couple ice skating, celebrating birthdays, and sharing quiet moments at home, including applying face masks together.

In her post, Perez referred to Anthony as her “sweet boy,” encouraged him to “hold your head high,” and stated, “You’re not alone – we’re fighting for you, always. I love you more than words.” She also promoted a newly created Instagram account under the handle “standwithkarmeloanthony” to rally support for him.

The response from many online observers was swift and largely critical. Commenters accused Perez of being tone-deaf and disrespectful toward Metcalf’s grieving family, leading to her personal TikTok account being locked and the fan page reportedly removed. Perez has since remained silent on the matter.

Friends describe Perez as Anthony’s high school sweetheart. Bruce Johnson, 27, a Collin County Democratic Party organizer who knew both young men, confirmed that Perez and Anthony had maintained an on-and-off relationship for approximately two years. Johnson, who attended Frisco Centennial High School and later served as a long-term substitute teacher there, noted the tense atmosphere surrounding the case.

“This was kind of a scary situation for somebody as young as her,” Johnson told reporters. He emphasized the human toll on both sides: “Both of these boys – they were both babies – and Austin lost his life, but Karmelo lost a portion of his life too.”

Jurors determined that Anthony fatally stabbed Metcalf, a student at Frisco Memorial High School, during an altercation at a high school athletics meet at Kuykendall Stadium in April 2025. Anthony is currently incarcerated at the Wallace Pack Unit, approximately 70 miles northwest of Houston.

The case has highlighted the deep divisions and raw emotions that often follow high-profile violent incidents involving teenagers.

While Perez’s public defense of her boyfriend reflects personal loyalty, it has reignited discussions about grief, accountability, and the lasting impact of such tragedies on families and communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.