Legal Defense Fund Launched for Karmelo Anthony’s Appeal
The family of Karmelo Anthony is raising $250,000 to support his appeal after a judge denied his request for a new trial. At just 19, Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years for the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track event in Frisco, Texas back in April 2025.
Following the rejection of his post-conviction motion by a district judge in Collin County, Anthony’s defense team has turned its attention to appealing to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.
During a press conference in southeast Dallas, where Anthony’s parents and their new appellate defense team discussed their ongoing legal struggle, the announcement of the new fundraiser was made. This campaign is hosted on GiveSendGo, aiming to gather the necessary funds for the appeal.
The organizers have clarified that all donations will be placed into a trust account managed by appellate lawyer Russell Wilson. This account is intended to cover various costs associated with the appeal, including transcripts, expert witnesses, court filings, and investigative services.
Interestingly, they also mentioned that Anthony’s family would not control the funds. However, this new appeal fund has attracted public attention due to concerns stemming from a previous campaign that raised nearly $634,000, which was later shut down by GiveSendGo following Anthony’s conviction.
The platform ended the first fundraiser, asserting that its initial goals had been met. Yet, controversy arose when it was revealed that a significant portion of the funds was used for family relocation, living expenses, and security, instead of solely for legal fees as the fundraiser originally implied.
Adding to the scrutiny, court documents show that Anthony had requested a court-appointed attorney for his appeal by declaring himself indigent, despite prior donations amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
During the recent press conference, family spokesperson Dominique Alexander chose not to disclose how the previous funds were spent, indicating he “could not speak” on all past expenses. Meanwhile, Anthony’s defense team stated that the costs for his initial trial defense alone surpassed $300,000.
“We understand that the pursuit of justice through the appellate system requires tremendous resources. This is why the legal fund has been established,” Alexander told the media.
Meanwhile, Anthony’s parents continue to maintain their belief in his innocence, claiming he acted in self-defense and arguing that his trial was unfair due to a supposed agreement between the original trial counsel and prosecutors regarding what character evidence could be presented.
The official appellate process is set to commence in October as his attorneys work to overturn the lengthy 35-year conviction.
