“Modern Day Lynching” - Dr Matthews on Karmello Anthony Case
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — Dr. Candice Matthews traveled to Collin County, Texas, to speak publicly about the Karmello Anthony case, where she called for renewed scrutiny of the officials involved in the prosecution.
Matthews said she and her team reviewed records involving Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis, who she said was involved in trying the case. Matthews pointed to a federal civil lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas in which Willis was named individually as a defendant, along with Collin County, First Assistant Bill Wirskye, and several Collin County officials.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs included Kim Pickrell, Keith Henslee, Fallon LaFleur, VyKim Le, Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 2. The lawsuit brought claims involving employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, and federal civil rights statutes.
The complaint alleged systemic misconduct inside the Collin County District Attorney’s Office, including gender discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. The lawsuit accused Willis of treating female employees as objects for his alleged sexual impulses and personal vanity. It also alleged that Wirskye helped create and maintain a misogynistic workplace culture inside the office.
The complaint further alleged that members of the Collin County Commissioners Court and county human resources officials knew about misconduct allegations for years but failed to take meaningful remedial action or conduct a reasonable investigation. The plaintiffs claimed county leadership helped enable the alleged misconduct by treating the elected district attorney as effectively “untouchable.”
The lawsuit was later settled for $1.75 million, with payment made to six plaintiffs.
Matthews also raised concerns about District Judge John Roach Jr. of Texas’s 296th District Court in Collin County, saying he is listed on a website called ChildAbuseJudges.com.
Speaking about the Karmello Anthony case, Matthews said she was “sickened” by the behavior of those connected to the prosecution and said she believes Anthony should be freed.
“When things are not being done right, we gotta shine a light to it,” Matthews said.
She added, “Because the fight starts now.”
The Karmello Anthony case has continued to draw public attention and debate, with Matthews and others calling for additional scrutiny of the case, the prosecution, and the officials involved.