Karmelo Anthony, a teenager from Texas, faces a 35-year prison sentence after being convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet. Despite his family’s fundraising efforts yielding over $634,000, he seeks a public defender for his appeal. Anthony claims he is financially unable to hire legal representation.
A Collin County jury found him guilty of the 2025 murder. Soon after the verdict, Anthony filed an appeal. Court documents indicate his claim of being ‘penniless and destitute.’ This assertion follows a fundraising campaign that initially aimed to collect $1.4 million. The campaign, which was recently discontinued, focused on legal fees and related expenses.
The fundraiser, organized by Anthony’s mother, had aimed to cover a range of expenses beyond legal fees. These included relocation costs due to safety concerns and other essential living costs. However, GiveSendGo removed the campaign after details of its use emerged. Their policy requires that money for legal charges be dedicated only to defense and sent directly to a licensed attorney.
Austin Metcalf, the victim, was a student at Memorial High School in Frisco. He was fatally stabbed at a track event by Anthony, who also attended a nearby high school. Less than two weeks after this tragic event, the fundraising campaign was launched.
GiveSendGo clarified through a statement that the fundraiser aimed to meet pre-trial needs and adhered to its lawful purpose, after which, it was closed. They maintain a stringent policy to ensure fund allocation aligns with its stated purpose. Fox News Digital’s Kelsie Cairns contributed to the reporting of Karmelo Anthony’s case.
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