Karmelo Anthony family seeks $250,000 for murder appeal while questions about prior $634,000 campaign go unanswered

Nearly two weeks after a judge denied a motion for a new trial, Karmelo Anthony's family held a news conference in Dallas to announce a new $250,000 fundraising campaign to fund his murder conviction appeal. Attorney Russell Wilson is identified as the fund's administrator, with donations flowing into a trust account that Anthony's family will not control or receive. The page showed $30,194 raised when Fox News Digital reviewed it, as the prior campaign that collected $633,908 before being pulled from public view remains unexplained.

Anthony, 19, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in June after a jury convicted him of murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. He has since described himself in court filings as "a penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel to represent me on the appeal."

Where the prior money went

The original GiveSendGo campaign, organized by Anthony's mother, carried an initial goal of nearly $1.4 million. Organizers said donations could be used for legal defense, relocation, basic living expenses, transportation, counseling and security. GiveSendGo stated the money was distributed for lawful purposes, including legal defense and moving the family, and that the campaign closed after its stated purpose was completed.

At the Dallas conference, a reporter pressed civil rights activist Dominique Alexander, a spokesman for Anthony's family, on where the prior funds went and whether donations were used to buy a car or house. Alexander called those claims "deliberate lies" and declined to explain the family's fees or confirm whether any money remained. He said the original campaign helped relocate the family after they faced threats.

Public records reviewed by Fox News Digital showed Anthony's parents, Andrew Anthony III and Kala Hayes, connected to business entities in Louisiana and Texas. A Texas entity listing Andrew Anthony III as registered agent became active 24 days after Metcalf's death. The records did not show whether either company generated revenue, held assets, or received fundraiser money. Anthony's parents have not been accused of wrongdoing.

The appeal timeline

Wilson said the appeal could take more than a year. The trial record is expected to be assembled in October, after which both sides will submit written briefs before the Dallas Court of Appeals, which could also hold a hearing. Wilson declined to detail the defense strategy, saying some issues could become material in future proceedings. Anthony remains in custody.