
The family of Karmelo Anthony is now asking supporters to chip in a quarter of a million dollars to help cover the cost of his appeal, months after the 19-year-old was handed a 35-year prison sentence for the deadly stabbing of a fellow Texas high school student.
The request comes through a GiveSendGo fundraiser that has pulled in around $27,000 so far, according to the page.
Anthony was convicted in June in the death of Austin Metcalf, a 17-year-old who was stabbed during a high school track meet in Frisco in 2025.
“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 Wednesday.
Last month, a Collin County judge denied Anthony’s motion for a new trial.
But the hearing reportedly brought renewed attention to a handshake agreement between prosecutors and the defense that kept certain evidence out of the original trial.
According to attorneys, Anthony had a history of violent and threatening texts, and his ex-girlfriend reported that he had been stalking her shortly before the stabbing.
In exchange, the defense agreed not to bring up Metcalf’s criminal record, which stemmed from racist graffiti that he and two others allegedly spray-painted.
Anthony’s new legal team argued that last-minute disputes over that deal kept Anthony from testifying in his own defense, which they claim seriously hurt his case.
“So much evidence came out. That evidence showed not only this family but the entire world that he did not receive a fair trial,” co-counsel Sean Daredia told reporters Wednesday.
The appeals process could stretch well into next year, and possibly longer if a new trial is granted, his team said.
Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, then stepped up to thank the people who have continued to stand by the family.
“We want to thank everybody, from the internet family to our personal family,” he said.
Before this latest fundraising push, the family had already raised more than $600,000 through another GiveSendGo campaign that was removed the day after Anthony’s conviction.
That organization said in a statement that the funds were set up for pre-trial needs and were used for purposes including legal defense and family relocation.
This new appeal is just beginning, and the road ahead appears far from over.
Will this latest plea for help change the outcome for Karmelo Anthony?

:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/Bryan-Kohberger-petition-3-072726-93cf79e8adcb4c4fbba85460ee310f08.jpg)
