Victim in boiled water attack fights to access GoFundMe funds

ATLANTA — An Atlanta man who suffered serious burns when someone poured boiling water on him and his partner told us he has a new problem.

Anthony Gooden showed Channel 2 Action News the $178,000 bill he got from Grady Hospital. Meanwhile his cousin, who started a GoFundMe page for his medical expenses, says she hasn't turned over all the money raised for him to  protect him.

"There's nothing to talk about. You've got my account number. You've got my routing number. Give me my money," Gooden said, referring to his cousin.

Gooden wants the donors who contributed more than $70,000 to his GoFundMe medical recovery account to know he's fighting a new fight.

%

%

"She's still holding onto my money. I have not received all my money, and I want something to take place because I need it," Gooden said.

Gooden's cousin raised thousands after his story went viral last month.

The 23-year-old and his partner suffered second and third-degree burns after Gooden's mother's boyfriend poured boiling water on them. The man told police he did it because the two men are gay.

Gooden was in a coma for two weeks after the February attack. He asked a cousin Diyawn Jackson to set up a GoFundMe page to help with his $178,000 medical bill.

Two months after making this request, Gooden says he's only seen $12,000 of the money raised.

"I've given him more than half the money. Now I'm trying to get with him so we can take care of Grady to some capacity and then if there's something left over he can have it," Jackson said.

Jackson told Channel 2's Nicole Carr she is protecting herself from tax liability and protecting Gooden from other family members she fears would use the money for things that have nothing to do with his medical expenses.

CLICK HERE to visit Gooden's GoFundMe page.

CLICK HERE to visit Tolbert's GoFundMe page.

"My thing is my name was on that account, and I don't want any repercussions on me for misappropriating the funds," Jackson said.

Jackson says she wants to meet with Gooden to sign an agreement releasing her from any liability. She recently shut down the GoFundMe page and hired an attorney.

Cox Media Group