A controversial online fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony has been shut down after his family raised some $630,000 for legal and living expenses now that he was convicted of murder — but his family may still be able to set up a new one.
The GiveSendGo went offline Wednesday afternoon, a day after 19-year-old Anthony was convicted in a Texas courtroom of killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at an April 2025 high school track meet.
GiveSendGo – a crowd sourcing platform that differs from GoFundMe in that it allows fundraisers for criminal cases – confirmed the fundraiser closure in a statement to The Post.
“The fundraiser was supported to support pre-trial needs, and those funds were disbursed over the last year,” the statement read. “With that stated purpose complete, the fundraiser has been closed.”
That statement indicated the Anthony family still pocketed more than half a million dollars during the explosive murder case.
But donations were still rolling after Anthony was convicted of first-degree murder — with more than $4,000 in donations made in that time.
It remains unclear if Anthony and his family will receive that cash, as GiveSendGo typically makes fundraiser payouts three days after a donation is made.
His family may also be able to set up a new fund if he seeks an appeal, GiveSendGo said, explaining so long as its policies are followed there would be no barrier.
GiveSendGo bars fundraisers that promote violence, illegal activities, or don’t provide an adequate explanation of where the funds will go.
“We can’t comment on the specifics of the movement of the campaign funds, just that they will be disbursed in accordance with our typical procedure,” GiveSendGo CEO Jacob Wells told The Post.
“The family will be able to set up a new campaign if they desire as long as it aligns with our terms of service.
Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the frightening slaying, which sparked racial tensions after the family of Anthony, who is black, claimed he was being persecuted.
The murder stemmed from a dispute when Anthony came to sit under a rival high school’s tent at a track meet.
Metcalf told Anthony to leave the tent numerous times and the situation escalated until Anthony said, “Touch me and find out.”
Then Metcalf pushed Anthony, who drew a knife from his bag and fatally stabbed Metcalf in the chest, according to witnesses.
Anthony claimed self-defense, arguing he’d been intimidated by Metcalf and his twin brother when he joined the scene.
His family and supporters also claimed he was being prosecuted especially harshly because he is black and his victim was white.
Further compounding the controversy was the makeup of Anthony’s jury, which was a mix of white, Asian and Hispanic — but had no black members.
Anthony’s GiveSendGo drew controversy after claims arose that his family was using it to buy a new house. GiveSendGo disputed those claims in a statement which clarified that no funds had been even paid out by the time of those reports.
The fundraiser said it would use the cash to help mount Anthony’s legal fund, but also to relocate the family over safety concerns and help pay for their basic day-to-day needs.
GiveSendGo stood by its position to host Anthony’s fundraiser after it was pulled.
“Hosting a campaign has never been an endorsement of a person, their actions, their legal arguments, or their public statements,” GiveSendGo’s statement read.
“It is not a declaration of innocence and it is not a political statement. GiveSendGo provides access to lawful fundraising, which we extend across the full spectrum of cases,” it added. “Our hearts are with Austin’s family, his twin brother, and everyone grieving a loss that no verdict can undo.”
“It is not a declaration of innocence and it is not a political statement. GiveSendGo provides access to lawful fundraising, which we extend across the full spectrum of cases,” it added. “Our hearts are with Austin’s family, his twin brother, and everyone grieving a loss that no verdict can undo.”
