The family of Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of murder earlier this year, is seeking an additional $250,000 in donations to fund his appeal. This comes after a judge denied his request for a new trial and amid questions surrounding the expenditure of approximately $634,000 previously raised for his defense. Attorneys for Anthony stated that the appeals process could extend into 2027.
Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on June 9 for the stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. The incident occurred on April 2, 2025, at a Texas high school track meet. Anthony, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, maintained he acted in self-defense, claiming he was bullied, shoved, and provoked. However, a jury rejected this argument and found him guilty of murder, also declining to convict him on the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Following the conviction, Anthony's parents vowed to continue fighting for their son, asserting he did not receive a fair trial. They have since assembled a new six-lawyer legal team that argued their son's rights were violated during the proceedings. The judge who presided over the trial was later removed from the case after defense attorneys argued he imposed overly strict courtroom rules and gave a post-trial interview.
The case drew national attention, with the killing of a white teenager by a Black peer becoming a focal point in discussions about race, politics, and privilege. A previous fundraiser for Anthony's defense was taken down after his conviction. Reports revealed that Anthony's family relocated to a $900,000 home in an exclusive neighborhood, allegedly after receiving threats at their previous residence.
A new fundraising effort, the Karmelo Anthony Legal Fund, has been established on GiveSendGo to support the appeal. The page states that all contributions will be deposited directly into an attorney trust account administered by lead attorney Russell Wilson and will be used solely for legal expenses such as briefs, filings, transcripts, investigators, and experts. The fund has already raised more than $30,000.
During a press conference in Dallas, representatives for Anthony's legal team were questioned about how previous donations were spent. Dominique Alexander, president of NGAN, declined to comment on the matter. Anthony's lawyers later stated that his legal expenses have surpassed $300,000. Metcalf was unarmed when he was stabbed in the heart.