GiveSendGo has shut down the official fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony following his conviction for the murder of Austin Metcalf.
The move comes one day after a Collin County jury convicted Anthony of first-degree murder and sentenced him to 35 years, as The Dallas Express reported. The fundraiser, which raised more than $630,000, had been active throughout the trial.
GiveSendGo co-founder Jacob Wells stated in April of 2025 that the “bulk of this money is going to be used for Karmelo’s legal defense,” reported Fox News Digital at the time. Later, Wells added that the funds would also be used for security and a “secure location for them to live.”
GiveSendGo previously allowed defense-related campaigns for the accused, but since Anthony was found guilty of murder, it prohibits fundraising for individuals convicted of violent crimes, specifically funds that “financially reward, glorify, or support the lifestyle of individuals convicted of violent crimes” without clear justification such as appeals or humanitarian needs.
With the campaign now shut down following Anthony’s murder conviction, the platform is expected to refund donations to contributors, consistent with its policy on campaigns involving individuals convicted of violent crimes. No official announcement has been made regarding the final disbursement of the more than $630,000 raised.
Prior to the GiveSendGo campaign being removed, the description posted by the Anthony family read, in part, as follows, as reported on by The Dallas Express: “This is the Official Support Fund for Karmelo and his family during this challenging and difficult time.”
GoFundMe removed earlier campaigns for Anthony, citing its policy against fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes, per Snopes. Donations to those campaigns were refunded, and the company issued the following statement at the time:
“GoFundMe’s Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes. Consistent with this long-standing policy, any fundraisers for the legal defense of someone charged with a violent crime are removed from the platform and fully refunded.”
The Metcalf family has not publicly commented on plans for a civil lawsuit. Legal experts note that a civil wrongful death suit remains possible after the criminal conviction, as the lower burden of proof in civil court (preponderance of evidence) differs from the criminal standard. No filing has been confirmed as of June 10, 2026.
The Dallas Express previously covered the case of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, where crowdfunding efforts on GiveSendGo for his defense also sparked debate over platform policies.
As of the time of publication, Mangione has raised $1,529,515.69 for his legal cases.
