After a fatal stabbing at a Texas track meet, the internet exploded.
Karmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with murder.
A fundraiser popped up on GiveSendGo.
And it’s already pulled in nearly $300,000.
But it’s not going to lawyers. Not directly.
It’s going to Kala Hayes, the woman listed as the official recipient.
And people are asking the same thing across Reddit, Facebook, and comment sections everywhere:
“Who even is she?”
So here’s what we know.
Kala Hayes is reportedly Karmelo’s stepmother.
She’s the listed beneficiary on the GiveSendGo campaign, created by “The Anthony Family.” The campaign claims the public narrative is “false, unjust, and harmful,” and thanks supporters for their prayers and donations.
But questions haven’t stopped.
One post read:
“This whole thing smells shady. Why isn’t the money in a legal trust?”
Another commenter said:
“Are we funding a defense or paying off the family’s house?”
When the New York Post reached out to Hayes, she confirmed the family had hired a PR team — but gave no more details.
The fundraiser’s page doesn’t break down how the money will be used, and GiveSendGo isn’t exactly known for enforcing tight restrictions.
In fact, it’s been criticized before for hosting campaigns tied to violent offenders.
Now Kala Hayes is sitting at the center of it all, holding hundreds of thousands in donations, while a murder trial looms ahead.
So who is she?
A stepmother trying to help her family?
Or a lightning rod for growing online suspicion?
Right now, no one has clear answers.
But the money keeps rolling in.
And the internet won’t stop watching.