A Texas state employee was terminated this week from her position as a parole supervisor with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) after agency officials discovered she had posted racially inflammatory comments on social media. Donna Murray Robinson, 35, publicly expressed support for the conviction of Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager found guilty of killing Austin Metcalf, a white teenager, and celebrated Metcalf's death with racially charged remarks.
"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." — Texas Department of Criminal Justice Spokesperson
The incident stems from a high-profile murder trial in Texas, which concluded last week. Karmelo Anthony, now 19, was convicted of first-degree murder in the April 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco. Anthony received a 35-year prison sentence. According to court testimony, the confrontation began when Anthony sat in a tent reserved for Metcalf's track team during a weather delay. Metcalf reportedly asked Anthony multiple times to leave. Witnesses testified that Anthony refused, challenging Metcalf with "Touch me and find out." Metcalf then shoved Anthony, at which point Anthony drew a knife and stabbed Metcalf in the chest. Metcalf subsequently bled out and died at the scene, reportedly in his twin brother's arms.
The killing garnered significant attention beyond Texas, partly due to the racial dynamics involved. Metcalf was white, and Anthony is Black. A segment of Anthony's supporters reportedly attempted to reframe the narrative, portraying Metcalf as a bully who had targeted Anthony due to his race. It was into this charged atmosphere that Donna Murray Robinson, a Houston native, posted her comments on Facebook under an account that has since been deleted. The Dallas Morning News initially reported on her remarks, which were also captured in screenshots obtained by the Daily Mail.
In her posts, Robinson expressed a lack of sympathy for Metcalf's family. "I for one don’t give a fk about the family’s loss," she wrote. She characterized the killing as retribution against a group she accused of historical wrongdoing, stating, "It’s about time these fkng [sic] bigots feel the pain that they have inflicted on other groups of people since the beginning of time!" In another comment, Robinson explicitly connected her reaction to race, writing, "I’m just glad we didn’t have to bury another black child. Let them start burying some of theirs for a change. FK’em [sic] I said what I said." Robinson reportedly identified herself by her TDCJ job title in her posts and even predicted that fellow prisoners would protect Anthony during his sentence.
Upon the internal surfacing of these posts, the TDCJ acted swiftly. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed to the Dallas Morning News that Robinson's employment was terminated specifically because of her written statements. The department issued a public statement explaining its decision, emphasizing that positions within TDCJ "carries significant public trust and requires decisions free from personal bias." The agency clarified how Robinson's comments violated its professional standards. "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 read. TDCJ officials further stated their commitment to preventing similar conduct, asserting that "Discriminatory or inflammatory conduct that erodes public confidence in the criminal justice system will not be tolerated."
Robinson has not publicly commented since the story broke, with neither the Dallas Morning News nor the Daily Mail receiving a response to their requests. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings surrounding Metcalf's death are ongoing, as Anthony has filed paperwork to appeal both his conviction and his 35-year prison sentence. The case continues to fuel public discourse and clashes between individuals aligned with different sides of the trial, highlighting the enduring racial tensions associated with Metcalf's death.
