Karmelo Anthony, a 17-year-old Black high school student from Frisco, Texas, finds himself in the midst of a storm of controversy as he faces a first-degree murder charge of stabbing white high school football star, Austin Metcalf, during a fight at a track meet on the 2nd of April 2025.
Following his arrest, Anthony’s bail was initially set at $1 million. That figure was later reduced to $250,000, and he was released under strict house arrest. He’s now living under electronic ankle monitoring, with an adult required to supervise him at all times.
But it’s not just the criminal case that’s caught public attention—it’s what happened after.
Soon after Anthony’s arrest, his family launched a fundraiser on the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. The campaign raised an estimated $440,000 to help cover legal defense costs, security measures, and general living expenses during what they described as a deeply traumatic time.
Critics were quick to point out, though, that none of the money went toward posting bail. The money, the family’s attorney, Mike Howard, explained, was not readily available and had already been allocated to other urgent expenses—most of all, for lawyers’ fees and increased security since the family had been receiving public threats.
Howard stated that the defense against a murder accusation is both costly and emotionally demanding. he stated:
“The family has kids. They’ve been threatened. They’re doing the best they can to be safe while they navigate the system,”
Less than a week after Anthony’s release from prison, news reports started emerging: the family had rented a home in a gated community that reportedly costs $900,000 and were seen cruising around in a Cadillac Escalade worth $150,000.
Social media platforms, especially X , exploded with backlash. Critics accused the family of misusing funds intended for legal defense. Some donors even publicly expressed regret, saying they felt duped by what they viewed as a sudden lifestyle upgrade.
But fact-checking tells a different story.
Photos and records of property reveal that the Anthony family had already been residents of the Richwoods gated community before the fundraiser. The white Cadillac Escalade also appears in neighborhood video and social media photos from 2023—years before donations started to arrive. A neighbor did say the family may have just gotten a second car, but that’s unconfirmed.
In spite of that, public opinion is still polarised, and the situation remains a lightning rod for controversy.
The backlash has been intense. Words using the hashtags #KarmeloAnthony and #JusticeforAustin express anger, with some accusing the family of taking advantage of public sympathy.
“This is the very reason that folks don’t trust these online fundraisers,”
a tweet from an X account read.
“They stated that the money would be for legal bills, not to rent mansions.”
Nevertheless, some came to the defense of the family.
“If your address had been leaked and you were the target of threats, wouldn’t you move as well?”
one commenter asked.
“They already have kids. They’re trying to survive.”
Locally, Richwoods residents expressed discomfort at the presence of a murder suspect in their midst. Some reportedly asked the homeowner’s association to step in. “It’s a nice neighborhood,” one of them reported to a local newspaper.
“We’re not so sure that’s the best place for someone who’s got that kind of charge against them.”
Speaking in public for the first time since the controversy began, Karmelo Anthony’s father spoke about the allegations. He confirmed that the family had been the target of several threats following the release of their home address, leading to arrangements to vacate and up security at home. These measures, he stated, were made for the sake of their kids—not because they wanted luxury.
Attorney Mike Howard echoed that in a statement:
“The money is being spent wisely. When you’re dealing with a high-publicity criminal case, security is not a choice—it’s a necessity. Relocation, legal representation, and protective services aren’t free.”
He stated that although the perception may be uncomfortable for some, the situation is more complex in reality compared to the perception in social media.
The case has been compared to the one of Kyle Rittenhouse, the white Illinois teen who killed two individuals amid a 2020 protest and later collected millions to aid in his defense. Rittenhouse spent 86 days in jail before his $2 million bail was paid.
by contrast, Anthony, who is black, had a $1 million bond set, reduced subsequently, and he was released after 12 days. The varying timelines and the public reaction to them have generated discussion about possible racial bias in the U.S. justice system.
In 2021, the Journal of Criminal Justice released a study that found that Black defendants are more likely to be granted higher bail levels for the same crime in contrast to white defendants. Activists promoting the cause of civil rights say that such disparity, as well as public pressure in cases of, for instance, Anthony, reflects underlying problems in the system.
As the case proceeds, Karmelo Anthony continues to be under house arrest, and a trial date has not been established. Meanwhile, the family’s every step, from the car they drive to the house they reside in, is under scrutiny.
