After receiving an unexpected outpouring of financial and other material aid, a college student in America found himself on the defensive after donors began expressing doubts about his character, the Daily Mail Online reports.
Last month, 19-year-old Fred Barley was reported to have biked six hours to get to Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia and was seen sleeping in a tent outside the school to wait out the opening of the school dormitory. Barley is a biology major and hopes to go to medical school after college.
The community in Barnesville quickly rallied around him after police found him sleeping in his tent with just cereal and some bottles of water. He then told the officers that he was homeless and had ridden his little brother's bicycle more than 50 miles in the scorching heat of summer to enrol for his second semester in the school.
His story appeared on the community's Facebook page, tugging at the heartstrings of residents, including Casey Blaney who started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the young man's education. In 20 days, donors raised more than $183,000.
Barley also found a job as a dishwasher at a local pizzeria, while other members of the community donated clothes, shoes, furnishings, and even a new mountain bike.
However, last week Blaney posted an update on Barley's GoFundMe page, saying she had asked for the campaign to be reviewed after she started having doubts on Barley's story. She wrote: "Unfortunately, multiple questions have been raised about Fred's story.
"We've received conflicting information about his initial story, and we just want to make sure the donors and the public have all of the information available to them before the funds are transferred to a trust to pay for his education."
Debbie Adamson, the owner of DB's Pizzeria who gave Barley a job, told the Daily Mail Online that Barley had left his job at her establishment and "gone into hiding" because he was being hounded by media.
Barley quickly defended himself over the attacks on his character, insisting that he had not lied about his story.
"I've had so many people attack my intelligence, my life, my character, and even more important, my integrity. I have not lied to any of you, nor will I," he posted on his Facebook page.
"I never intended on being a role model for younger kids, or the nation's feel good story, but I'm glad God put the responsibility on me because it gives me a chance to say God is real to a much wider group of people.
"And I know it seems like everything good in the world, always aborts to bad, but with God by my side I haven't been stricken by all the turmoil , it actually encourages me.
"A lot of people have been trying to tell me that my name is being slandered in multiple ways, it's okay. I accept it with the most genuine love.
"Whatever transpires between Casey and I, I want her to still know that I love her and forgive her."
Blaney and Barley had clashed over how best to manage the donated money, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Blaney wanted to set up a trust overseen by a professional, but Barley wanted more say over the fund's management, the news outlet said.
Last Thursday, GoFundMe.com said it had frozen the account of the campaign until it resolves questions about the young man's story.
However, Barley updated followers on Facebook to confirm that the dispute has now been resolved and the funds will be moved into a trust fund as planned.
