TDCJ fires parole supervisor Donna Robinson over Facebook comments on Karmelo Anthony case

A Texas parole supervisor was fired by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after posting inflammatory Facebook comments about the murder case of 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony. Donna Robinson's remarks expressed explicit bias and lack of concern for the victim's family, and were deemed incompatible with policy and impartiality standards. The termination followed an internal review, confirmed by a TDCJ spokeswoman. Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison after being convicted of fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco high school track meet in April 2025; prosecutors argued escalation of a dispute, while the jury rejected self-defense claims.

The firing highlights growing expectations that corrections officials maintain neutrality to preserve public trust in the justice system. The remarks drew widespread outrage and reflect ongoing debates about bias in state criminal justice processes.