Karmelo Anthony says he's broke and does not have enough money for a lawyer for appeal; Family earned $625,000.00 in crowdfunding
The 19-year-old convicted killer made the claim in court documents for his appeal filed after he was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for murdering 17-year-old football player Austin Metcalf at a Frisco, Texas, high school track meet in 2025.
In his filing, Anthony describes himself as a “penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel to represent me on the appeal.”
GiveSendGo cancelled the family's fundraising efforts after Anthony was convicted, after more than $629,724 had been raised.
“The fundraiser had been established to provide comprehensive assistance to the Anthony family as they navigate the many challenges surrounding Karmelo’s case,” Hayes wrote.
“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.”
It is unclear how the courts will respond to Anthony’s claim that he is too poor to afford a lawyer after the haul his family made online.