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Karmelo Anthony Pleads Poverty and Asks for Public Defender Despite $600K Fundraiser, as Family Boosts Goal to $1.4M
Gateway Pundit ^ | 06/28/2025 | Cassandra MacDonald

Posted on 06/28/2025 2:35:55 PM PDT by DFG

Karmelo Anthony, the 18-year-old Texas teen indicted for the first-degree murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco high school track meet in April, has requested a court-appointed public defender, citing financial hardship, despite his family’s GiveSendGo fundraiser raising nearly $600,000. The family also recently raised the campaign’s goal to $1.4 million, sparking questions about the use of funds. Since the killing, the Anthonys have purchased a new Cadillac and moved into a $900,000 home.

Anthony fatally stabbed 17-year-old Metcalf in the heart at a track meet in Frisco, Texas. He died in the arms of his twin brother.

The killer, who claims self-defense, was released on house arrest with an ankle monitor after his bond was reduced from $1 million to $250,000.

The “Help Karmelo Official Fund” on GiveSendGo, launched by Anthony’s family, had raised $595,000 as of June 26, 2025, initially targeting $350,000 before increasing to $600,000 and now $1.4 million.

The family claims the funds support legal defense, safe relocation due to threats, basic living costs, transportation, trauma counseling, and security measures.

Court records show Anthony’s previous private attorney, Mike Howard, is no longer listed, and on June 25, Anthony’s father, Andrew Anthony, announced the public defender request, claiming indigence.

Howard’s retainer was estimated to be between $10,000 and $30,000, with hourly rates ranging from $400 to $500.

Anthony was indicted by a Collin County grand jury earlier this week, with a trial expected in 2026.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: crime; freemelo; frisco; frymelo; karmelo; killerkarmelo; scummy; shwoog; texas
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To: plain talk
... moved into a $900,000 home."

... and will not be able to pay the property tax.

The Anthony family will burn through whatever money they raise and end up poor.
Not unlike the classic stereotype lottery winner.

41 posted on 06/28/2025 3:42:37 PM PDT by Salman (It's not a slippery slope if it was part of the program all along.)
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To: Salman
Yeah DNA has not been kind to some people.


42 posted on 06/28/2025 3:52:08 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: dadgum

I recall a book from many years ago, this millionaire goes through a small dying town and had a car break down. No one would help, everyone tried to screw him over. After he got home he sent everyone in town $10,000. and that much money which none of them had ever had, destroyed everyones life.


43 posted on 06/28/2025 3:52:55 PM PDT by Jolla
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To: alternatives?

Supposedly any video of the event showed no reason for Anthony to claim self defense. There was no pushing, shoving or anything to make that claim.


44 posted on 06/28/2025 3:56:40 PM PDT by dforest
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To: DFG

I was looking up the definition of grifter in Websters dictionary and the picture of Karmelo and his family was there.


45 posted on 06/28/2025 3:57:54 PM PDT by rocksblues (Thank you Shana Chappell. “You are nobody special Biden!!! America Hates you!!!!!”)
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To: DFG

Is Abbot still considering pardoning him?


46 posted on 06/28/2025 4:03:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway ( )
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To: DFG

Did Mike Howard have to get judicial approval to drop the case?


47 posted on 06/28/2025 4:04:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway ( )
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To: DFG

Is anyone surprised that the family who squandered their son’s defense fund on themselves raised a son who openly committed murder is broad daylight ?


48 posted on 06/28/2025 4:12:33 PM PDT by daku
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To: nickcarraway

https://www.mikehowardlaw.com/legal-blog/


49 posted on 06/28/2025 4:19:24 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
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To: DFG
"Oft evil will shall evil mar."

All of these people have slept their last peaceful nights long ago.

50 posted on 06/28/2025 4:32:39 PM PDT by Frank Drebin (And don't ever let me catch you guys in America!)
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To: ClearCase_guy

He needs to be represented by Vincent LaGuardia Gambini.


51 posted on 06/28/2025 4:42:38 PM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Nullius in verba)
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To: Salman
moved into a $900,000 home.

This is crappy, possibly deliberately misleading/inflammatory reporting: they didn’t purchase the home in question; they’re renting it, supposedly temporarily.

The Anthony family will burn through whatever money they raise and end up poor.

No dispute from me on this assessment. When your first impulse is to use your murderer son’s legal fund to buy a Caddy…
52 posted on 06/28/2025 4:48:01 PM PDT by verum ago (I figure some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind.)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
He needs to be represented by Vincent LaGuardia Gambini.

The yute in question doesn’t deserve Vincent LaGuardia Gambini. He deserves the ‘quintessential Norton’ treatment.
53 posted on 06/28/2025 4:52:10 PM PDT by verum ago (I figure some people must truly be in love, for only love can be so blind.)
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To: Night Hides Not

WTF are you talking about? Read a map. Those 2 cities aren’t even close.


54 posted on 06/28/2025 4:54:53 PM PDT by IllumiNaughtyByNature (Polls are designed to sell more ads & polls only. If it's not a horse race the money dries up.)
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To: dforest

I listened to Matt Walsh describe this. Just another way the MSM buries news.


55 posted on 06/28/2025 5:11:53 PM PDT by alternatives?
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To: verum ago

56 posted on 06/28/2025 5:31:10 PM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Nullius in verba)
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To: ClearCase_guy

“I could be wrong, but I think the average public defender is basically in charge of saying, “You know what? I think your best best is just to plead guilty.””

i think i read somewhere else that PDs spend the great bulk of their time trying to get their client to agree to a plea deal ...


57 posted on 06/28/2025 5:38:01 PM PDT by catnipman ((A Vote For The Lesser Of Two Evils Still Counts As A Vote For Evil))
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To: IllumiNaughtyByNature

Probably got Coppell confused with The Colony which is next to Frisco.


58 posted on 06/28/2025 5:44:59 PM PDT by DFG
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

He needs the stuttering public defender


59 posted on 06/28/2025 5:47:56 PM PDT by cableguymn (Can't cancel all of us)
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To: dfwgator

That was “Dewey, Cheatem and Howe.”


60 posted on 06/28/2025 6:21:50 PM PDT by Pikachu_Dad
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