DALLAS, TEXAS — Karmelo Anthony’s family is asking supporters for another major round of financial help as the convicted killer begins the next stage of his legal battle.

On September 2, Anthony’s parents and attorneys appeared at a Dallas church to discuss plans to challenge his murder conviction and announced a new online fundraiser with a $250,000 goal to help cover the costs of the appeal.

Anthony, 19, is currently serving a 35-year prison sentence for the 2025 stabbing death of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. A jury convicted Anthony of murder in June after rejecting his claim that he acted in self-defense.

⚖️ THE NEW LEGAL FIGHT HAS BEGUN
The latest fundraising campaign comes shortly after Collin County Judge Michael Chitty denied Anthony’s request for a new trial on August 22.

That motion had been based on several arguments from Anthony’s new legal team, including claims involving the conduct of the original trial judge and pretrial proceedings.

With the new-trial request rejected, Anthony’s lawyers are now turning their attention to the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.

His attorneys told reporters that they expect the appellate process to begin moving forward in the coming weeks and that obtaining the complete trial record is one of their immediate priorities.

The defense has warned that the process could extend well into 2027.

💰 WHY THE FAMILY IS ASKING FOR ANOTHER $250,000
The new GiveSendGo campaign is specifically intended to help pay for Anthony’s continuing legal expenses.

According to reports, the new campaign has a $250,000 target. The family previously raised more than $600,000 through a separate crowdfunding effort before that campaign was taken down following Anthony’s conviction.

As of the latest reporting, the new campaign had brought in roughly $27,000, leaving a substantial gap between the amount already raised and the family’s goal.

The new request has attracted attention because of the size of the earlier campaign and the fact that Anthony is now seeking to overturn a conviction rather than prepare for trial.

His supporters maintain that the legal fight is far from finished.

🗣️ ANTHONY’S PARENTS SPEAK OUT
The September 2 appearance was one of the first public statements from Anthony’s parents since a judge rejected the request for a new trial.

His father, Andrew Anthony, thanked supporters who have stood behind the family throughout the case.

He described the past year as an experience he would not wish on any parent and expressed gratitude toward those continuing to support his son.

The family has consistently maintained that Anthony acted in self-defense and that his trial did not fairly present the evidence they believe could have supported that position.

🔥 THE CENTRAL QUESTION: SELF-DEFENSE
Everything in the appeal ultimately comes back to the confrontation that ended with Austin Metcalf’s death.

Anthony admitted stabbing Metcalf but maintained that he was reacting to a physical confrontation and acted to protect himself.

Prosecutors argued that Anthony was the aggressor and that the evidence did not support a lawful self-defense claim.

The jury ultimately found him guilty of murder.

His new attorneys are now attempting to challenge the conviction through the appellate courts, where they will have to identify specific legal errors that they believe justify reversing the judgment or granting other relief.

📋 LAWYERS SAY THE APPEAL COULD TAKE MONTHS
Anthony’s attorneys have indicated that there will not be an immediate courtroom showdown.

The first major step is assembling the record from the original trial. Once the necessary materials are obtained, the defense can begin developing its appellate arguments.

The case could then move through briefing and oral-argument stages before the appeals court issues a decision.

That means supporters expecting a quick resolution are likely to face a much longer process.

A successful appeal also would not automatically mean Anthony walks free. Depending on the ruling, the appellate court could potentially order a new trial or provide another legal remedy.

🕯️ THE METCALF FAMILY IS STILL WAITING FOR FINALITY
While Anthony’s family is preparing its next legal challenge, Austin Metcalf’s family continues to live with the loss of the 17-year-old athlete.

The case drew national attention because of the circumstances surrounding the track-meet confrontation and because Anthony is Black and Metcalf was white.

The case became the subject of intense public debate, although attorneys on both sides have emphasized that the legal issue before the court is whether Anthony committed murder and whether the conviction should stand — not broader political arguments surrounding the case.

🚨 THIS IS NOT A NEW TRIAL — IT IS AN APPEAL
One point is especially important as attention turns to the new fundraiser.

Anthony has not been granted a new trial.

The judge already rejected his request for one, and the defense is now seeking relief from a higher court.

The appeal will examine legal arguments raised by his attorneys; it is not another chance to simply restart the original trial.

For now, the conviction remains valid and Anthony remains behind bars under his 35-year sentence.

⏳ THE NEXT PHASE COULD LAST INTO 2027
The September 2 announcement marks a new chapter in a case that has remained intensely controversial since Austin Metcalf was fatally stabbed in April 2025.

Anthony’s family is now asking supporters to help finance what could become a lengthy appellate battle.

Their new fundraising target is $250,000.

Whether that money will ultimately help overturn Anthony’s conviction is impossible to know at this stage. The appeals court has not yet ruled on the merits of the case.

For now, the facts are clear: Anthony has been convicted of murder, sentenced to 35 years, denied a new trial, and is now preparing an appeal.

And as his family begins another fundraising campaign, the next major question is no longer what happened on the track that day — but whether an appeals court will find enough legal error to change what happened in the courtroom afterward.

Sources:

New York Post — Karmelo Anthony’s family asks donors for $250K to fund teen killer’s appeal