The conviction and sentencing of Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the murder of Austin Metcalf may have brought the criminal trial to a close, but it has not stopped money from flowing into the online fundraising campaign established on his behalf.
Anthony was sentenced Tuesday after a Collin County jury found him guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of the 17-year-old Memorial High School student during a track meet in Frisco, Texas. Yet even after the verdict and sentence were announced, donations continued appearing on the family's GiveSendGo campaign page.
The fundraiser currently lists a goal of $1,396,725. As of this writing, more than $629,000 has been raised.
The campaign was initially promoted as a way to help fund Anthony's legal defense, but the description posted by his mother, Kala Hayes, makes clear that the money is intended for broader purposes as well.
"This fundraiser has been established to provide comprehensive assistance to the Anthony family as they navigate the many challenges surrounding Karmelo's case," Hayes wrote on the campaign page.
She added that while legal expenses are a significant concern, the donations are not limited solely to attorney fees.
"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."
That distinction has drawn renewed scrutiny following Anthony's conviction. With the trial completed and a sentence now imposed, critics have questioned why the fundraiser remains active and why donations continue arriving.
The controversy surrounding the fundraising effort is not new. Public attention intensified in April 2025 when reports surfaced that Anthony and his family were living in an upscale gated community in Frisco known as Richwoods. The neighborhood contains homes valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, with some properties approaching or exceeding $900,000.
At the time, residents told the Daily Mail they had observed signs that the family was living comfortably despite public perceptions that they needed financial assistance.
"He got a new car," one resident told the publication. "If you look at the license plate, it's got a paper tag, and it says it expires June 4."
Another resident offered a similar assessment.
"They're not poor people. That's for sure."
Those reports fueled criticism of the fundraising campaign and raised questions about how donated funds were being used. The debate has only intensified now that Anthony has been convicted and sentenced.
On social media, many users are calling on GiveSendGo to remove the campaign entirely, arguing that the original justification for raising money no longer applies now that a jury has reached its verdict. Others point to the campaign's language stating that the funds were never intended solely for legal expenses and note that the family may continue facing costs related to appeals and other matters.
GiveSendGo has not announced any plans to remove the fundraiser, and donations continue to be recorded on the campaign page.