The case of Karmelo Anthony continues to generate controversy, and the latest development is raising new questions about where hundreds of thousands of dollars in donated money ultimately went.
Anthony, who was convicted of murdering fellow teenager Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison, has now filed paperwork seeking a taxpayer-funded appeal. According to court documents cited by Fox News, Anthony claims he is unable to afford legal representation and should qualify for court-appointed counsel.
In the filing, Anthony described himself as a “penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel to represent me on the appeal.”
The claim immediately caught attention because of the substantial fundraising effort launched on his behalf after his arrest. A GiveSendGo campaign created following the fatal stabbing brought in more than $633,000 before eventually being removed after Anthony’s conviction.
So essentially they took advantage of all of the people who donated to him, I doubt they will get in trouble. I wonder if the roles ×were reversed would the same people donate.
Karmelo Anthony claims he’s penniless as business records tied to parents draw scrutiny #Louisiana…— kim cox (@kimberwolf32) June 17, 2026
At the time, organizers said the money was intended to help Anthony and his family navigate the legal and personal challenges surrounding the case.
“We are grateful for your support during this incredibly difficult time for Karmelo Anthony and his family,” organizers wrote on the fundraising page.
“This fundraiser has been established to provide comprehensive assistance to the Anthony family as they navigate the many challenges surrounding Karmelo’s case.”
The fundraising campaign became one of the most talked-about aspects of the case, generating fierce debate online. Supporters argued the family needed resources to defend Anthony and manage the intense public scrutiny surrounding the prosecution. Critics questioned why such a large amount of money was being collected for an individual charged with a violent crime.
Now, with Anthony claiming he cannot afford an attorney for his appeal, attention is once again turning toward those donated funds.
Court records indicate Anthony has already been assigned appellate attorney Donny Perales of McKinney, Texas. During the murder trial itself, Anthony was represented by attorneys Mike Howard and Toby Shook.
The legal team, however, was noticeably absent from a recent media appearance by Anthony’s parents, Kayla Hayes and Andrew Anthony.
During an interview with media personality Mimi Brown, a contributor to the nationally known radio program “The Breakfast Club,” Anthony’s parents made it clear they remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial.
When Brown asked whether they believed their son received a fair trial, both parents responded without hesitation.
“Absolutely not,” they said.
Hayes pledged to continue fighting on her son’s behalf, signaling that the family intends to pursue every available legal avenue during the appeals process.
Brown also asked whether they would have handled anything differently throughout the case.
Andrew Anthony responded by expressing frustration with advice the family received during the legal proceedings.
“I wish I would have just been rebellious,” he said. “I was told, ‘Don’t talk to this person.’ ‘Don’t talk to this person.’ I feel like it was just a set-up.”
Nice parents. Spend all the money raised for a good defense attorney on a house instead. https://t.co/K0XOsWVM3P
— Allecal (@caldarone_al) June 17, 2026
He then pointed to legal representation as one of his biggest regrets.
“So, they told us, go get white attorneys. Every black person I went to, ‘white attorney,’” he said.
The comments are likely to spark additional debate around a case that has already divided public opinion along multiple lines.
For Anthony, the next phase now shifts to the appeals process. Whether his conviction or sentence will ultimately be challenged successfully remains unknown. What is certain is that questions surrounding the fundraising campaign, the family’s legal strategy, and the claim of financial hardship are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
As the appeal moves forward, those issues may become almost as heavily scrutinized as the original trial itself.
