Karmelo Anthony and his family received some unwanted news this week, with a Texas grand jury indicting the teenager, now 18, for first-degree murder.
Anthony will stand trial for the stabbing death of another teenager, Austin Metcalf, following a fatal track meet altercation earlier this year.
The 18-year-old’s family has raised over $500,000 via GiveSendGo since his arrest, but they are now claiming he cannot afford an attorney.
According to investigative journalist Sarah Fields, Anthony has requested a court-appointed attorney as an indigent defendant, meaning he’s financially destitute. His family has updated the page and is now seeking $1.4 million for a legal team and other expenses.
Karmelo’s mother, Kala Hayes, said in April that the family had gotten access to the donated money and had raised $350,000. The current number stands at $538,000.
Fields also cites a source noting that the current lawyer, Mike Howard, is likely charging a retainer fee of up to $30,000 and charging $400-$500 per hour.
Grand Jury Has Seen Evidence Regarding Karmelo Anthony Case And Has Determined That There Is A Case To Answer
Collin District Attorney Greg Willis announced the decision to indict Anthony for first-degree murder on Tuesday, indicating that his team presented evidence to a jury, which has decided that there is indeed a case to answer.
Willis claimed to be aware that the “case has struck a deep nerve — here in Collin County and beyond.”
“That’s understandable. When something like this happens at a school event, it shakes people to the core,” he added.
The DA also asked the community to trust the justice system, noting that it “works best when it moves with steadiness and with principle.”
Meanwhile, the Anthony family states that their latest request was made so they can cover safe relocation, as they have been receiving death threats, as well as basic living expenses, transportation, counseling, security equipment, legal counsel, and an investigative team.
