A new fundraising effort has been launched for Karmelo Anthony just hours after the original crowdfunding campaign tied to his family was shut down following his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence. The move has immediately raised new questions because the first campaign had already collected more than $600,000 before it was removed.
Anthony, 19, was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. Less than a day after the verdict and sentence, his legal team filed a notice of appeal, signaling that the case is not over despite the jury’s decision.
The appeal filing drew attention because Anthony described himself in court documents as “penniless, destitute, and indigent,” claiming he could not afford an attorney for the next stage of the legal fight. That statement quickly became controversial because his family had previously raised around $625,000 through GiveSendGo after his arrest.
The original fundraiser was organized by Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, and remained active through much of the case. It had been promoted as support for legal defense and family needs connected to the intense public attention surrounding the fatal stabbing case.
After Anthony was convicted, GiveSendGo shut down the original campaign. The platform said the fundraiser had served its stated pre-trial purpose and that the funds had been distributed over the past year for lawful expenses, including legal defense and relocation support.
Now, a new campaign called the “Karmelo Appellate Fund” has been created specifically for Anthony’s appeal. According to the fundraiser description, the money is meant for appellate attorneys, legal research, court expenses, and other costs connected to challenging the conviction and sentence.
Hayes addressed the launch by emphasizing that the new campaign is separate from the original family support fund. The page says the separation was created to avoid confusion about how donations would be used and to make clear that this new effort is focused only on the appeal.
The explanation also revealed again that the first fundraiser was never meant only for legal fees. The original campaign listed several needs, including family relocation, transportation, counseling, security, and living expenses connected to the public fallout from the case.
That detail has fueled criticism from people who questioned how Anthony could now claim he cannot afford legal representation after so much money was raised. Supporters, however, argue that the earlier donations were spread across many needs and that an appeal can require a separate legal budget.
As Anthony begins serving his sentence, the new appellate fund ensures the financial controversy surrounding the case will continue. The original campaign may be gone, but the new fundraiser has opened another chapter in a case already marked by grief, public division, and questions that remain far from settled.
