Gabriel Davies: GoFundMe REJECTS fundraiser started by family of teen murder suspect to cover legal fees
PIERCE COUNTY, WASHINGTON: The case of 16-year-old Olympia High School football player, Gabriel Davies, has taken some shocking turns in the past few days, with the teen going missing under "suspicious circumstances" on Wednesday, August 31, and then being arrested on Friday, September 2 on suspicion of second-degree murder of a 51-year-old man with another teen. Now, as per the latest update, family of Davies tried to set up a fundraising page but was rejected by GoFundMe.
A GoFundMe page, with a goal of $25,000 for Davies was set up on Saturday afternoon, September 3, just the day after the teen got booked into Remann Hall, Pierce County’s juvenile detention facility, on suspicion of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, and unlawful gun possession. It stayed up for less than 24 hours. The page raised around $20,200 as of 11 am on September 4. But soon, it was taken down as according to GoFundMe’s terms of service, one cannot raise money if connected to violent crimes, reported The Olympian.
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GoFundMe Terms of Service
The page states, "The following are examples of User Content and/or use that is illegal or prohibited by GoFundMe. This list is not exhaustive and we reserve the right to remove any Fundraiser and/or investigate any User who, in our sole discretion, violates any of the terms or spirit of these Terms of Service, or other policies such as the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee or Beneficiary Guarantee." It mentions "not to use the Services to raise funds or establish or contribute to any Fundraiser with the implicit or explicit purpose of promoting or involving" including "the legal defense of alleged crimes associated with hate, violence, harassment, bullying, discrimination, terrorism, or intolerance of any kind relating to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, serious disabilities or diseases, financial crimes or crimes of deception."
Stating the same reason, GoFundMe while removing Davies' fundraising page mentioned it’s because “the charity connected to this fundraiser is no longer supported by our payment partner.” Spokesperson Angelique McNaughton, as quoted by The Olympian, said, "I can confirm we removed the fundraiser and all donors will be refunded. Our terms of service prohibit fundraising for the legal defense of an alleged violent crime.”
Details of the missing-turned-murder case
Davies went missing on the night of August 31. Following this, police found blood in his abandoned truck. The Thurston County sheriff even enlisted the FBI in the search, as per Yahoo! On September 1, a 51-year-old man was found dead inside his home at 21900 block of 190th Street East in Orting. As per reports by various outlets, he and Davies' mother were allegedly a couple. After the body was discovered, Davies reappeared on the same night, leading to his and another 16-year-old arrest.