Share and Follow
A couple has been apprehended for allegedly concocting a fraudulent scheme, claiming their son was battling cancer in order to raise funds, which they later spent on dining out and shopping.
On February 27, authorities charged Edward Downing and Stephanie Skeris with multiple third-degree felonies, including fraud and child neglect, according to a statement released by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
Both Downing and Skeris have entered pleas of not guilty, as indicated by court documents. They have been released after posting bail.
The pair is accused of misleadingly soliciting donations by claiming their 15-year-old son was suffering from a cancer diagnosis that supposedly affected his chest and internal organs. Investigations into medical records and consultations revealed no such cancer diagnosis, with Medicaid covering his actual medical expenses.
Beginning in December 2024, the couple sought medical attention for their son due to weight loss and other health concerns. However, thorough evaluations found no evidence of cancer or tumors, according to the police. Instead, doctors recommended a nutritional plan and continued care for the boy.
Still, the couple allegedly misrepresented their son’s health to “community members, businesses, and media outlets,” per the release, while events and fundraisers collected donations for alleged medical expenses.
A GoFundMe campaign was also established to solicit money for alleged treatment, which included surgery.
“The fundraiser raised $25 from one donor, and that donation was refunded under the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee,” a company spokesperson told Oxygen in a statement. “Our team also removed the fundraiser and banned the organizer account from using our platform. GoFundMe has zero tolerance for misuse of our platform, and we cooperate with law enforcement investigations involving suspected wrongdoing.”
In March 2025, Downing told news station WCJB that his son was diagnosed with cancer.
“I don’t really know how to take this,” said Downing. “As a father, all I can do is love him day by day, just hoping he gets better.”
Skeris told the outlet that a fundraiser, then held at Papa Luigi’s restaurant in Old Town, helped “tremendously” with their son’s doctor’s bills.
“The littlest things in life matter,” Skeris told WCJB. “When you get a shocking diagnosis, your world is flipped upside down, but you have to learn how to overcome it and take it day by day.”
Investigators discovered a bank account specifically set up for the boy’s medical bills, according to the sheriff’s office, though financial records revealed funds “were used for personal purchases, including retail transactions, fuel, restaurant meals, and cash withdrawals.”
“During the investigation, medical professionals and child protection investigators identified concerns related to the juvenile’s well-being and medical care,” read the press release. “The juvenile was placed in protective care, where medical providers continued to evaluate and treat.”
The couple have no court dates currently on file, according to county records reviewed by Oxygen, and an attorney for both individuals did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for Papa Luigi’s did not immediately return a request for comment from Oxygen.