There is justice in the world.
Johnny Bobbitt, the homeless military veteran whose sad story prompted good-hearted Americans to donate more than $400,000 to him, will get the full amount — even though the couple behind the fundraising drive allegedly spent much of the cash.
“GoFundMe and Cozen O’Connor, the Philadelphia law firm representing Bobbitt, announced Thursday evening in a joint statement that he will receive an amount equal to the balance of the funds he did not get from the online fund-raiser set up for him in November,” the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote.
“Johnny will be made whole and we’re committing that he’ll get the balance of the funds that he has not yet received or benefited from,” GoFundMe said in a statement. “GoFundMe’s goal has always been to ensure Johnny gets support he deserves.”
Bobbitt was a homeless drug addict when he gave his last $20 to Kate McClure, who was stranded on the side of the road in Philadelphia, in November. The story went viral and McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D’Amico, created a GoFundMe account for Bobbitt. Some 14,000 people donated.
There’s confusion about what happened after that.
Lawyers for Bobbitt and the couple have disagreed on how much of the $400,000 that was raised has already been spent on Bobbitt’s behalf. Bobbitt’s legal team maintains that he was given a total of about $75,000. The couple’s lawyer, Ernest E. Badway, has said Bobbitt got $200,000 total. This week, Badway disclosed that none of the money remains.
Police on Thursday raided the New Jersey couple’s home. Photos from the scene showed a black BMW being towed away. McClure and D’Amico have been ordered to appear in court next week to explain what happened to the money, but no charges have been filed.
For the time being, the money will be transferred to an account controlled by Bobbitt’s lawyers, but it cannot be used until the judge determines who will manage it.
