The aftermath of the Karmelo Anthony murder case continues to generate controversy, this time over the question of who should pay for his appeal.
Anthony, who was convicted of murdering fellow teenager Austin Metcalf and sentenced to 35 years in prison, has filed paperwork seeking a court-appointed attorney for his appeal, claiming he lacks the financial resources to hire legal representation.
According to court filings, Anthony described himself as a “penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel to represent me on the appeal.”
The request has attracted attention because Anthony’s family previously benefited from a fundraising campaign that collected more than $600,000 after he was charged in the case.
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
A GiveSendGo fundraiser established on behalf of Anthony and his family raised approximately $633,908 before it was ultimately removed following his conviction. Organizers said at the time that the money was intended to help the family navigate the legal, financial, and personal challenges surrounding the case.
“We are grateful for your support during this incredibly difficult time for Karmelo Anthony and his family,” the fundraising page stated.
“This fundraiser has been established to provide comprehensive assistance to the Anthony family as they navigate the many challenges surrounding Karmelo’s case.”
Questions have since emerged regarding the disposition of those funds and whether any portion remains available for legal expenses. Public reporting has not established how the money was spent, and court records cited in recent reports indicate Anthony nonetheless qualified for appointed appellate counsel.
A judge has already assigned attorney Donny Perales of McKinney, Texas, to represent Anthony during the appeals process.
During the trial, Anthony was represented by defense attorneys Mike Howard and Toby Shook.
The issue of legal representation surfaced again during a recent media interview featuring Anthony’s parents, Andrew Anthony and Kayla Hayes. Speaking with radio personality Mimi Brown, the parents expressed dissatisfaction with both the trial outcome and the legal strategy that was pursued.
When asked whether they believed their son received a fair trial, both answered emphatically.
“Absolutely not,” they said.
Hayes added that the family intends to continue fighting the conviction through the appeals process.
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
Brown also asked whether they would have handled anything differently.
Andrew Anthony responded by criticizing advice he said the family received during the case.
“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.”
He also suggested he had been encouraged to hire white attorneys rather than Black attorneys, expressing frustration with that guidance after the conviction.
The filing for court-appointed counsel represents the latest development in a case that drew national attention following the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf in April 2025. Anthony was ultimately convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years behind bars.
