Lawyer Says $400,000 Raised Through GoFundMe For Homeless Man May Be Gone
What happens when a feel-good moment turns into an all-out feud?
GoFundMe is working with law enforcement to make sure a homeless man receives all of the money that was raised for him in a recent campaign. You may or may not remember, but last October Johnny Bobbitt, Jr. helped stranded motorist Kate McClure by giving her the last $20 in his pocket to help her out with gas.
Touched by his "act of kindness" McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D'Amico set up a GoFundMe that raised nearly $400,000 once people read into their story. Now, Bobbitt's attorney is saying after receiving only $75,000 the "remainder of the money due to his client is gone" and Bobbitt is currently on the street again.
The couple claims that in addition to the approximate $30,000 in fees collected by GoFundMe, they've provided Bobbitt with more than $200,000 of the $402,000 that was raised. Bobbitt's attorneys say that the couple has been enjoying lavish trips and even a new BMW with the money raised on his client's behalf.
Basically, it boils down to a lot of he said, she said with McClure and D'Amico saying they've done what they could to help Bobbitt—a drug addict who allegedly spent $25,000 on drugs in a matter of 3 days. Reports say the couple has provided Bobbitt with over half the money, but are withholding the rest until he gets a job and is drug-free.
Bobbitt's attorney says his client has plans to go through a monthlong rehab plan, and in the meantime, a judge has ordered the couple to provide "a full accounting of where the money has gone." The couple has until September 10 to provide that information and until things are sorted the money needs to be turned over to Bobbitt's legal team and kept in a trust.
A GoFundMe spokesperson told CNN that the company is working with Bobbitt's legal team to ensure he receives $20,000 to a bank account while they try to collect the remainder of the money.
It's important to remember that our platform is backed by the GoFundMe Guarantee, which means that in the rare case that GoFundMe, law enforcement or a user finds campaigns are misused, donors and beneficiaries are protected
How do you feel about this story? Does this make you leary to donate to any GoFundMe? Should Bobbitt get the rest of the money regardless of what he does with it? Does the couple reserve the right to keep the money or spend any of it on themselves, and if so should they face legal repercussions?
Check out the full details here and sound off on this topic in the comments.