Sharifa Nicole Henderson, a 34‑year‑old resident of Missouri, was taken into custody in Kansas City on Sept. 11 following a federal indictment in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment, returned by a grand jury on Sept. 9, charges Henderson with three counts of interstate threatening communications for allegedly sending death threats to members of the Metcalf family after the conviction of Karmelo Anthony for the killing of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf.
Timeline of alleged threats
According to the indictment, the first threat was sent on June 10 via Facebook Messenger. Henderson allegedly wrote that she would “kill them and put them in a body bag” and added a profane challenge to take her to court. Later that same day, she is said to have called the Collin County government – the agency that prosecuted Anthony – and threatened to “demolish” the Metcalf family and “strangle” one of its members.
A second Facebook Messenger message was allegedly sent on June 11. In that message, Henderson reportedly wrote, “Don’t worry I’ll kill you next. I will hunt you forever until I kill you… I will be there. You will always have to look over your [expletive] shoulder.”
Potential penalties
If convicted, Henderson faces up to five years in prison for each count, meaning a possible maximum sentence of 15 years. Federal prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of interstate threats and the need to protect victims’ families from intimidation.
Impact on the Metcalf family
Jeff Metcalf, Austin’s father, told FOX 4 Dallas‑Fort Worth that his family has received more than 100 threats since the murder trial concluded. He expressed gratitude to law‑enforcement agencies for pursuing the case against Henderson and urged the public to focus on seeking justice rather than further harassment.
Background of the original murder case
Karmelo Anthony, then a 19‑year‑old student at Centennial High School, was convicted on June 9 of fatally stabbing Austin Metcalf during a regional high‑school track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on April 2, 2025. Anthony received a 35‑year prison sentence. The trial sparked national attention and heated debate over race and jury composition, with some supporters of Anthony alleging bias and others rallying for the Metcalf family’s pursuit of justice.
Authorities have stated that there was no prior relationship between Anthony and Metcalf, and surveillance footage showed Anthony fleeing the scene after the stabbing. A recent motion for a new trial was denied, though the family is preparing an appeal.
Law‑enforcement response
Federal agents in Texas coordinated with Kansas City police to apprehend Henderson, underscoring the collaborative effort across state lines to address threats that cross jurisdictional boundaries. The indictment demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to protecting victims of violent crime from further intimidation.
Henderson’s case remains pending, and she will appear before a federal judge for a preliminary hearing. The community and the Metcalf family await the outcome, hoping that the legal process will bring closure and deter future threats against victims’ families.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
