Karmelo Anthony's family is seeking an additional $250,000 to fund his appeal following his conviction in the fatal stabbing of a Frisco teenager. This new fundraising effort comes after a previous campaign raised nearly $634,000 and faced questions regarding how those funds were spent. The announcement was made at a news conference in Dallas, Texas.
Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in June after a jury found him guilty of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet. He is appealing the conviction and claims he cannot afford to hire an attorney for the appellate process.
Russell Wilson, an attorney representing Anthony, stated at the news conference that the new fund is intended to cover legal fees, expert witnesses, and other costs associated with challenging the conviction. Wilson explained that the denial of a motion for a new trial is part of the ongoing appeals process and that the appeal itself could take more than a year to resolve.
The previous fundraising campaign, launched on GiveSendGo in April 2025, had a goal of nearly $1.4 million and raised $633,908 before it was removed from public view after Anthony's conviction. Organizers had stated that donations could be used for legal defense, relocation assistance for the family, living expenses, transportation, counseling, and security.
GiveSendGo, the platform used for the earlier campaign, stated that the money had been distributed over the previous year for lawful purposes, including legal defense and family relocation, and that the campaign was closed upon completion of its stated objectives. However, questions have persisted regarding the specific allocation of these funds.
The new fundraising page specifies that donations will be placed in an attorney trust account managed by Wilson, with Anthony's family having no control over the funds. The stated purpose of this new campaign is exclusively for legal expenses, such as filings, transcripts, investigators, and expert witnesses. As of the latest reporting, the new campaign had raised over $30,000 toward its $250,000 goal, with Trinicia Ricks identified as the campaign's creator and Wilson as the recipient.
During the news conference, a reporter pressed Dominique Alexander, a spokesperson for Anthony's family, about the new funding request and the allocation of money from the prior campaign, including allegations that funds were used for personal purchases like a car or house. Alexander dismissed these claims as "deliberate lies" but declined to provide specific details about the family's expenses or any remaining funds from the original fundraiser. He did state that the initial fund also assisted the family in relocating due to threats they received.
Public records previously reviewed indicated that Anthony's parents were connected to business entities in Texas and Louisiana. One Texas entity, listing Andrew Anthony III as its registered agent, became active shortly after Metcalf's death. These records did not confirm whether these companies generated revenue or received funds from the fundraiser, and Anthony's parents have not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Anthony maintains his claim of indigence in court filings, describing himself as "penniless, destitute, and indigent." He remains in custody while his appeal proceeds. Wilson declined to elaborate on the specifics of the defense strategy for the appeal.