Deadline passes for N.J. couple to turn over cash meant for homeless Philly man

The Burlington, New Jersey, couple who raised thousands for a homeless man living in Philadelphia has apparently missed a court-ordered deadline to turn over the remaining donations.

Superior Court Judge Paula T. Dow imposed the 24-hour deadline during a Thursday afternoon hearing that was scheduled after Johnny Bobbitt Jr. filed a civil suit against Katelyn McClure and Mark D’Amico.

He claims they have mismanaged a large part of the $400,000 raised through the viral GoFundMe campaign they launched to thank him after he bought gas for McClure with his last $20 when her car ran out of fuel in Philadelphia.

The order was handed down shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to Jacqueline Promislo, one of Bobbitt’s attorneys.

Dow ordered the couple to transfer the money into an escrow account controlled by Bobbitt’s pro bono lawyers at Cozen O’Connor PC. The funds can’t be used until Dow determines who will manage them.

Ernest Badway, the couple’s lawyer, declined to comment Friday.

Bobbitt helped McClure after she became stranded on I-95 in Philadelphia. McClure and D’Amico then started the fundraising page for Bobbitt that prompted more than 10,000 people to donate.

The couple later bought Bobbitt a camper with some of the money and parked it on land McClure’s family owns in New Jersey. But Bobbitt is now back on the streets in Philadelphia after they told him in June that he had to leave the property.

McClure and D’Amico have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, saying they wanted to control the cash because they feared Bobbitt would squander it on drugs.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.