Karmelo Anthony Fundraiser Removed As Appeal Claims He Is Broke

The online fundraiser created for convicted murderer Karmelo Anthony and his family has been taken down after collecting nearly $634,000, even as Anthony now tells the court he cannot afford an attorney for his appeal.

Anthony was convicted Tuesday of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison in connection with the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.

Following the conviction and sentencing, Anthony filed a notice of appeal in an effort to challenge both the verdict and the punishment handed down by the court.

According to court documents cited by WFAA, Anthony claimed he does not have the financial means to hire legal counsel for the appellate process.

The filing describes Anthony as a “penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel to represent me on the appeal.”

That statement has sparked renewed scrutiny because Anthony’s family had previously been the beneficiary of a massive online fundraising campaign that brought in nearly $634,000 before it was removed from GiveSendGo.

The campaign, called “Help Karmelo Official Fund,” was launched on April 15, 2025, less than two weeks after the incident that led to Anthony’s arrest. The original fundraising target was nearly $1.4 million.

Before the page was removed, its description said the funds were intended to support several needs beyond legal expenses. Those included family relocation, transportation, counseling, security measures, and basic living costs connected to the widely publicized case.

The fundraiser also claimed that escalating threats against the Anthony family made relocation necessary.

Where the family ultimately moved has not been publicly confirmed. However, a man identifying himself on Facebook as Anthony’s father, Drew Anthony, currently lists New Orleans, Louisiana, as his place of residence.

GiveSendGo later addressed the removal of the campaign in a statement posted on social media.

“The fundraiser was created to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were dispersed over the past year for lawful purposes, including legal defense and family relocation,” the company said.

The platform said the fundraiser was closed because its stated purpose had been fulfilled, emphasizing that campaigns must accurately describe why donors are being asked to contribute.

“Our policy is that a fundraiser stated purpose stays accurate so givers always know what they are supporting,” the company said.

Although the original campaign is no longer active, reports indicate a new fundraising effort has been started on behalf of Anthony’s family.

That campaign was reportedly launched by Dallas-area activist and minister Dominique Alexander, who served as a spokesman for Anthony’s family throughout the criminal proceedings and regularly handled media questions during the case.

Anthony’s 35-year sentence means he will remain behind bars while the appeal process unfolds unless a future court ruling changes his status.

Still, his claim that he is unable to afford appellate counsel has raised obvious questions given the large amount of money previously donated in his family’s name.

The available court filings do not make clear whether Anthony personally has access to any of the donated funds, whether the money remains under the control of family members, or whether it was spent on the purposes listed in the campaign.

It also remains unclear how much of the nearly $634,000 went toward legal fees, relocation, security, living expenses, or other costs described by the fundraiser.

The appeal will now proceed through the Texas court system as Anthony seeks to overturn the conviction or obtain a new trial.

For many Americans following the case, the fundraiser controversy has become another flashpoint in a story already marked by public outrage, questions of accountability, and concern for the family of Austin Metcalf.

Whether the court grants Anthony appointed counsel based on his indigency claim is likely to become one of the next major developments in the appeal.