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Reports indicate that Karmelo Anthony’s parents spent donations from the fundraiser on a house and luxury vehicles, though the family disputes receiving the funds.
Fundraising Background
After Karmelo Anthony, then 17, was accused of fatally stabbing another student at a Texas track meet, his family set up a GoFundMe page to cover legal expenses. GoFundMe removed the campaign due to its policy against raising money for legal defense in violent crimes, and the fundraiser was later relaunched on GiveSendGo, where it raised over $500,000
Sandra Rose+2. The campaign aimed to support Karmelo’s legal defense, living expenses, and security
Fox News.
Alleged Spending
Some reports claim that Karmelo Anthony’s parents used approximately $532,000 from the donations to purchase a
$900,000 home in a gated community and
luxury vehicles, as well as for shopping sprees at high-end stores
Sandra Rose+1. These claims led to public outrage, with some donors demanding refunds and criticizing the family for allegedly misusing funds intended for legal support
Sandra Rose+1.
Family’s Response
Karmelo Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, publicly denied that the family had received or spent any of the GiveSendGo funds. She stated that the family had only recently been notified that they could begin withdrawing the donations and that no money had yet been distributed
Larry Brown Sports. The family’s attorney also emphasized that any reports of spending on a home or cars were false, framing the move into a gated community as a
safety measure rather than a purchase funded by donations
Larry Brown Sports.