GoFundMe Gives $20K To Homeless Vet, Probing NJ Couple's Role

GoFundMe has decided to give a homeless veteran $20,000 as the drama surrounding $400,000 that was raised for him by a South Jersey couple continues.

The online fundraising group is working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that Johnny Bobbit Jr. receives all the money that was raised on his behalf, according to a company spokesperson.

Ironically, the investigation is centered around the Florence couple that launched the fundraiser for him in the first place.

Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico have been ridiculed on social media and elsewhere for not delivering all the money to Bobbit, and for being photographed while taking seemingly expensive trips.

The couple's reported absence during two consecutive hearings in Burlington County Superior Court has only exacerbated the situation.

Read more: NJ Couple's $400K For Homeless Man's GoFundMe Is Gone: Attorney

“While we assist law enforcement with their ongoing investigation, GoFundMe is also working with Johnny's legal team to ensure he's receiving support while the remaining funds are being recovered,” GoFundMe said in a statement. “GoFundMe has given $20,000 to a bank account created by Johnny's legal team to provide assistance during the investigation.

“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.”

Chris Fallon is representing Bobbit, and said he learned on Tuesday that all the money raised through the account established by Kate McClure and Mark D'Amico was gone. On Tuesday, he said he sent their attorney, Ernest Badway, a list of documents he’d like to see pertaining to the $400,000 that was raised through the "Paying it Forward" GoFundMe fundraiser.

However, Badway attempted to plead the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a court hearing on Wednesday, according to nj.com. The request was rejected because it was the second consecutive hearing in which McClure and D'Amico didn't appear in court. The next hearing is set for Sept. 14.

Neither attorney was immediately available for comment to Patch Wednesday morning.

D'Amico and McClure launched the campaign after Bobbit gave his last $20 to McClure after she ran out of gas on I-95 on her way to Philadelphia. The fundraiser made national headlines, and generated far more cash than the couple had originally hoped. After their viral success, the trio made the rounds on morning television shows to share their inspiring story.

But things quickly deteriorated.

Last month, Bobbit told Philly.com that he had returned to panhandling, and that he has no access to the money that was raised for him through the campaign. Soon after, he filed a lawsuit against the couple.

The matter went before a judge, who ruled in Bobbit's favor, citing the likely irreparable harm done to Bobbit because he is homeless and collecting money from a GoFundMe campaign. The money was to be held in an escrow account and turned over to Fallon, but it was then revealed during a conference call Tuesday morning that it was gone.

D'Amico had said he was controlling the money that was raised and would give it to Bobbit when he "gets a job and stops using drugs," the Philly.com report said.

Fallon admitted that Bobbit had fallen off the wagon a couple of times. Fallon and three Philadelphia women are currently trying to get Bobbit into what he described as an "excellent" drug treatment and recovery program.

Bobbit has described himself as a "functioning addict" in North Carolina who moved to Philadelphia for a fresh start before falling back into his old ways. On Tuesday, Fallon told Patch his goal was to help Bobbit recover the money and get the treatment he needs.

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch. It was posted on the Paying It Forward GoFundMe Page.