By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-09-02 19:26:24 | Updated at 2026-09-02 20:08:14
45 minutes ago
Karmelo Anthony’s family is asking supporters to fork over $250,000 to pay for the convicted killer’s appeal after a Texas judge shot down his request for a new trial.
The GiveSendGo fundraiser has already raised $27,000 from grassroots supporters of the 19-year-old, who was sentenced to 35 years in June for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, 17, at a high school track meet in 2025 in Frisco.
“We understand that the pursuit of justice through the appellate system requires tremendous resources. This is why the legal fund has been established,” family spokesperson Dominique Alexander told reporters on Wednesday.
Last month a Collin County judge denied Anthony’s motion for a new trial, but the hearing dragged out evidence kept under wraps via a handshake deal between the prosecution and defense.
Anthony had a history of violent, threatening texts, and his ex-girlfriend reported that he had been stalking her shortly before the stabbing, attorneys claimed.
In exchange for keeping that out of court, the defense agreed to not mention Metcalf’s criminal record stemming from racist graffiti that he and two others allegedly spray painted.
Last-minute squabbles over the deal reportedly forced Anthony’s lawyers to keep him from taking the stand, effectively sinking his case, his new legal team argued during the hearing for retrial.
“So much evidence came out. That evidence showed not only this family but the entire world that he did not receive a fair trial,” Anthony’s co-counsel Sean Daredia told reporters on Wednesday.
But the appeals process could stretch into next year, and much longer if a new trial is granted, his team said.
Anthony’s father Andrew Anthony then took the mic to thank all the “angels around here” for their ongoing support.
“We want to thank everybody, from the internet family to our personal family,” Andrew Anthony said.
The Anthony family had already raised more than $600,000 in another GiveSendGo fundraiser, which was taken down the day after his conviction.
“This fundraiser was created to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were disbursed over the past year for lawful purposes including legal defense and family relocation,” the organization said in a statement.
