*A Texas Department of Criminal Justice parole supervisor has been fired after making inflammatory social media comments about Karmelo Anthony and the family of slain teenager Austin Metcalf, according to officials.
Donna Murray Robinson, who identified herself on Facebook as a Texas Department of Criminal Justice employee, lost her job after posting comments supporting Anthony following his sentencing and criticizing the Metcalf family. The comments quickly went viral, generating widespread backlash and prompting a review by the state prison system.
The firing comes just days after Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco. The case has drawn national attention and fueled intense debate online, where race, justice and competing narratives have dominated much of the public conversation.
Viral Comments Trigger Backlash
According to The Dallas Morning News, Robinson’s Facebook profile indicated she had worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for more than a decade.
After Anthony’s sentencing, Robinson publicly expressed relief that he would not become another Black teenager killed in a high-profile case.
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“I’m just glad we didn’t have to bury another Black child,” Robinson wrote.
She then added a comment that quickly spread across social media.
“Let them start burying some of theirs for a change. FK’em I said what I said.”
The remarks drew immediate criticism from people who argued that a criminal justice employee should not publicly make statements that appeared racially charged or dismissive of a victim’s family.
Critics also questioned whether someone serving in a parole supervision role could remain impartial after making such comments in a highly publicized criminal case.
State Prison System Responds
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice moved swiftly after Robinson’s comments became public.
In a statement provided to The Dallas Morning News, a department spokeswoman confirmed that Robinson had been terminated following a review of her public statements.
The agency emphasized that employees are expected to perform their duties without personal bias and maintain public confidence in the criminal justice system.
“Working for the department carries significant public trust and requires decisions free from personal bias,” the spokeswoman said.
The department said Robinson’s comments violated those expectations.
“These statements are incompatible with TDCJ policy and values. They demonstrate bias and a lack of the impartiality essential to the fair administration of justice in Texas,” the statement said.
The agency further stated that discriminatory or inflammatory conduct that erodes confidence in the criminal justice system will not be tolerated.
Robinson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Case That Divided Public Opinion
The Anthony case has been among the most polarizing criminal trials in Texas in recent memory.
Anthony admitted to stabbing Metcalf during a confrontation at a Frisco high school track meet but argued that he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors maintained that the evidence supported a murder conviction, and the jury ultimately agreed.
Anthony, who is Black, was convicted in the death of Metcalf, who was white.
From the moment of the stabbing through the trial and sentencing, the case became a flashpoint for online debates about race, self-defense, criminal justice and media narratives.
Supporters of Anthony often argued that racial bias influenced public perception of the case, while supporters of the Metcalf family focused on accountability for Austin’s death and rejected claims that race played a role in the killing.
The result was months of heated exchanges, misinformation, racial rhetoric and social media controversy from people on all sides of the issue.
Public Trust and Professional Responsibility
Robinson’s firing underscores the heightened scrutiny faced by public employees, particularly those working within law enforcement and corrections.
Because parole supervisors and other criminal justice officials are expected to make decisions fairly and without prejudice, public comments that suggest bias can create concerns about whether those responsibilities can be carried out impartially.
That concern was central to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s response.
Rather than focusing solely on Robinson’s personal views, the agency emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the fairness of the justice system.
The decision to terminate Robinson sends a clear message that state employees entrusted with authority over criminal justice matters are expected to remain impartial, especially when discussing high-profile cases that have already inflamed racial tensions across the country.
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