Karmelo Anthony’s family seeks $250,000 for his appeal after a $633,908 fundraiser, raising new questions about how earlier donations were spent.
Karmelo Anthony’s family is asking supporters for another $250,000 to help finance his appeal after the 19-year-old was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
The new fundraising effort comes after Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison and a judge rejected his request for a new trial. His legal team says the appellate process could take more than a year.
New $250,000 fundraiser targets appeal costs
Anthony’s supporters announced the new legal fund at a Dallas news conference, saying the money will be used to challenge his murder conviction.
Attorney Russell Wilson said the appeal could involve substantial legal expenses, including filings, transcripts, investigators and expert witnesses.
The new GiveSendGo campaign has a $250,000 fundraising goal. When Fox News Digital reviewed the page, it had collected $30,194. The campaign identifies Wilson as the person who will receive the funds.
According to the campaign page, donations will be deposited into an attorney trust account. The page also states that Anthony’s family will not receive or control the money and that contributions will be limited to legal expenses.
Previous fundraiser raised $633,908
The renewed fundraising effort has drawn attention because Anthony’s family previously received substantial support through another GiveSendGo campaign.
That fundraiser, launched in April 2025, collected $633,908 before it was removed from public view after Anthony’s conviction. The original campaign had a goal of nearly $1.4 million.
Organizers previously said the money could be used for legal defense, relocation, basic living expenses, transportation, counseling and security.
GiveSendGo said the money had been distributed for lawful purposes, including legal defense and relocating the family, and that the campaign was closed after its stated purpose was completed.
Questions remain over earlier donations
The new fundraising campaign has also revived questions about what happened to the money raised through the original campaign.
At the Dallas news conference, a reporter questioned family spokesman Dominique Alexander about the earlier fundraiser and allegations that donations may have been used for major purchases.
Alexander rejected those claims as “deliberate lies,” according to Fox News Digital. However, when asked whether money from the previous campaign remained available or requested to explain the family’s expenses, he did not provide additional details.
Anthony’s parents have not been accused of wrongdoing.
Public records previously reviewed by News showed that Anthony’s parents were connected to business entities in Texas and Louisiana. However, those records did not establish that either company received fundraiser proceeds, generated revenue related to the case or held assets connected to the donations.
Anthony says he cannot afford an appeal lawyer
The renewed fundraising effort comes alongside Anthony’s claim that he lacks the money to pay for appellate counsel.
In court filings, Anthony described himself as “penniless” and unable to afford an attorney. He has nevertheless obtained legal representation for his appeal, including Wilson, who is helping lead the effort.
The legal team argues that the appeal remains necessary despite the judge’s rejection of Anthony’s request for a new trial.
Wilson said the denial of a new trial does not end the appellate process. The trial record is expected to be assembled in October, after which written arguments will be filed and the Dallas Court of Appeals could hold a hearing.
Appeal could take more than a year
The next stage of the case is expected to focus on legal arguments surrounding Anthony’s conviction and trial.
Wilson has said the appeal could take more than a year, meaning the case is likely to remain in the spotlight as the legal process moves forward. Anthony remains incarcerated while the appeal proceeds.
For supporters, the new $250,000 Karmelo Anthony appeal fundraiser represents an effort to continue his legal fight. For critics, the campaign raises renewed questions about the nearly $634,000 previously collected and how those donations were ultimately spent.
The new campaign’s structure—placing donations in an attorney trust account and restricting their use to legal expenses—appears designed to address at least some of those concerns.
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