Scalding Water Thrown on Gay Couple: Thousands Raised for Medical Expenses

ATLANTA, GA -- More than $60,000 has been raised to help with the medical expenses of a gay man who, along with his partner, was scalded with boiling water.

Meanwhile, the FBI has opened a hate-crime investigation into the incident, which happened last month.

Both Anthony Gooden, Jr., and Marquez Tolbert suffered second- and third-degree burns over their body after Martin Blackwell, 48, allegedly threw boiling water onto the couple while they were in bed. At the time, Blackwell, who is facing two charges of aggravated battery, was the boyfriend of Gooden's mother, Kim Foster.

The incident took place at Foster's College Park apartment.

The mother of one of the gay Atlanta men scalded with boiling water while they were sleeping said their attacker would have to answer to a higher authority for his actions that left them severely burned.

The case has drawn national attention to the alleged actions of Martin Blackwell, accused of pouring boiling water on Anthony Gooden Jr. and Marquez Tolbert as they lay in bed in the College Park apartment that Gooden shares with his mother, Kim Foster.

In an interview with Channel 2 Action News, Foster said Blackwell disapproved of her son's lifestyle, but says she never thought he would hurt her son.

“He got hatred in his heart and God’s gonna deal with him,” Foster said.

Gooden spent two weeks in a coma, while Tobert spent 10 days in the hospital. Gooden has two more years of recovery, and more than 1,800 people have made donations via a GoFundMe online fundraising effort.

A separate GoFundMe account has been set up for Tolbert's recovery, which has also raised more than $61,000 from more than 1,900 people.

Image: GoFundMe