GoFundMe has removed a campaign created to raise money to cover legal costs for an appeal for William “Roddie” Bryan,” one of Ahmaud Arbery’s killers.
The page was created by Bryan’s fiancé, Amy Elrod.
“I am the fiancé of William “Roddie” Bryan. He is the man whom was found guilty of murder along with the McMichaels in the Ahmaud Arbery case in Brunswick, Ga. Roddie had no weapon that day, only his cell phone, to which no one would have known what happened that day without it. He also turned it over to the police on the scene and cooperated fully throughout the investigation. Please help anyway you can to #FreeRoddie #IStandWithRoddie,” the description read.
Bryan was convicted on three of the felony murders counts and charges of aggravated assault with his pickup truck, false imprisonment and criminal intent to commit a felony.
Father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael were also convicted of murdering Arbery on Feb. 23, 2020. A date for sentencing in the state trial has not been announced.
The deadly trio also faces federal hate crimes charges. Jury selection in that trial begins Feb. 7, 2022. If convicted, all three men could be facing the death penalty.
GoFundMe says the crowdfunder was pulled as it violates company policy which prohibits raising money for the legal defense of a violent crime.
Bryan’s camp then trawled its campaign over to Spotfund.
“Shame on GoFundMe for cancelling Roddie’s fundraiser for his appeal,” Bryan’s attorney, Kevin Gough, wrote on Facebook after the page was removed. “Friends and family of Roddie Bryan have set up a new account online, at Spotfund, to fund what are likely to be considerable legal costs associated with his appeal. The money is NOT for me. Not a penny. Please be generous.”
