Just days after being sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of Austin Metcalf, Karmelo Anthony has filed an appeal, while a high-profile fundraising campaign tied to his family appears to have been shut down.
According to Fox News, Anthony was convicted of murder on Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas.
Following the verdict, he was sentenced to 35 years behind bars.
Court records show Anthony has already moved to challenge the conviction.
According to WFAA, Anthony stated in his appeal filing that he cannot afford legal representation for the next phase of his case.
The filing reportedly states that Anthony is a “penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel to represent me on the appeal.”
The appeal comes as a fundraising campaign created on behalf of Anthony and his family has disappeared from GiveSendGo.
The campaign, titled “Help Karmelo Official Fund,” was launched on April 15, 2025, less than two weeks after Metcalf’s death.
The fundraiser initially sought nearly $1.4 million and ultimately raised just under $634,000 before being removed.
According to the campaign description, the money was intended for more than legal expenses.
“While legal defense is a critical part of this journey, we want to make it clear that this fund is not solely dedicated to legal expenses,” the page stated.
The fundraiser said donations would also help cover relocation costs for the Anthony family, along with transportation, counseling, security measures and other living expenses.
The family’s relocation was referenced in the campaign, though it remains unclear where they moved after leaving their Frisco home.
A man identifying himself on Facebook as Anthony’s father, Drew Anthony, lists New Orleans, Louisiana, as his current city of residence.
GiveSendGo addressed the fundraiser’s closure in a statement posted on X.
“The fundraiser was created to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were dispersed over the past year for lawful purposes, including legal defense and family relocation with that stated purpose now complete the fundraiser has been closed,” the company wrote.
“Our policy is that a fundraiser stated purpose stays accurate so givers always know what they are supporting.”
While that campaign has ended, another fundraising effort has reportedly surfaced.
The new fundraiser was launched by Dallas-based activist Dominique Alexander, who served as a spokesperson for Anthony’s family throughout the murder case.
Anthony remains in custody as he begins serving his sentence and pursues his appeal.
