A new fundraiser has been created to support Karmelo Anthony’s appeal just after his previous GiveSendGo campaign was shut down following his murder conviction and 35-year prison sentence. The new effort has added another layer of debate to a case that has remained deeply divided even after the trial ended.
The new campaign, called the “Karmelo Appellate Fund,” was launched shortly after Anthony filed a notice of appeal. That filing came less than 24 hours after he was convicted of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a 2025 high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
According to the fundraiser description, the new campaign is meant specifically for the appellate phase of Anthony’s case. Organizers said the goal is to keep the appeal fund separate from earlier donations and to create more transparency about how new money will be used.
Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, is listed as the organizer of the new fundraiser. The campaign says donations will help cover costs connected to the appeal, including attorney fees, legal research, and other expenses tied to challenging the conviction.
The page also frames the fundraiser around due process and fairness, asking supporters to contribute if they believe Anthony should have access to a full legal review. His family has continued to argue that the trial process was unfair and that important issues should be examined by a higher court.
The launch comes after Anthony’s earlier GiveSendGo campaign raised more than $600,000 before being closed after the conviction. That original fundraiser had been created after his arrest and was described as support for legal defense, relocation, counseling, and basic family needs.
The earlier fundraising total has now become one of the biggest points of public scrutiny. Critics have questioned how Anthony can now describe himself as unable to afford legal counsel after such a large amount was raised through the previous campaign.
In his appeal filing, Anthony reportedly described himself as “penniless, destitute, and indigent,” saying he could not afford an attorney for the appeal. That claim has raised new questions about how courts may view his request for court-appointed legal representation.
Defense attorney Mike Howard previously said there are several issues the appellate courts may need to review. The appeal does not automatically mean Anthony will receive a new trial, but it does allow a higher court to examine whether legal errors affected the outcome.
For now, Anthony’s conviction and 35-year sentence remain in place as the appeal begins. But with a new fundraiser, renewed questions about the previous campaign, and continued debate over the trial, the case is moving into another controversial chapter far beyond the courtroom.
