After Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, attention quickly turned back to the online campaign that has continued raising money in his name. The verdict may have closed one major chapter inside the courtroom, but outside of it, the fundraiser has become another source of anger, debate, and public scrutiny.
As of June 2026, the “Help Karmelo Official Fund” on GiveSendGo had raised more than $626,000. The campaign did not stop after the guilty verdict, and donations continued from supporters who still believe Anthony acted in self-defense or who believe his family deserves financial help regardless of the jury’s decision.
The campaign page says the money is intended for several purposes, including legal defense, relocation, living expenses, transportation, counseling, and security. That wide list has drawn criticism from people who say many donors may have assumed the money was only going toward legal costs.
After the verdict, calls for GiveSendGo to remove the campaign grew louder online. Some users argued that the fundraiser was now supporting a convicted murderer, while others questioned why a Christian-based fundraising platform would allow the campaign to remain active after a jury had reached a guilty verdict.
GiveSendGo responded by saying it was not the judge or jury in the case. The platform said its role is to allow people to raise funds while trusting the legal system to do its job. In other words, the company made clear that the conviction alone was not enough for it to automatically remove the fundraiser.
The platform also addressed one of the biggest rumors surrounding the campaign: the claim that Anthony’s family used donation money to buy a house. GiveSendGo said that allegation was false and stated that the family had not received funds from the campaign at the time those rumors were spreading.
Separate from the fundraiser, a website connected to the “Justice for Karmelo” movement has also drawn attention for selling merchandise, including hoodies and shirts. The products were reportedly available before the verdict and remained listed afterward, adding another layer to the backlash.
For critics, the merchandise has become even harder to accept than the fundraiser itself. Many argue that selling clothing connected to a teenager convicted in another teenager’s death feels deeply inappropriate while Austin Metcalf’s family continues grieving.
Anthony’s support network also remains active online. A Facebook group called “Justice For Karmelo” has more than 51,000 members, while another private group has attracted thousands more. In those spaces, supporters continue pushing back against the verdict and sharing their own views of what happened.
But none of the online arguments changed what happened in court. A jury heard the evidence, rejected the self-defense claim, and convicted Anthony of murder. Now, while the fundraiser, merchandise, and social media groups continue to fuel debate, Austin Metcalf’s family is left with a loss that no online campaign can undo.
