Two parents who allegedly pretended their son had cancer were arrested for a medical fundraising hoax—money they spent on restaurant meals and retail purchases.
On Feb. 27, Edward Downing and Stephanie Skeris were charged with scheme to defraud, communications fraud and neglect of a child, all third-degree felonies, according to a press release from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
Both parties pleaded not guilty, according to court records obtained by Oxygen.com, and they were released on bond.
Downing and Skeris are accused of soliciting money for their 15-year-old son’s cancer diagnosis, read the press release, which they claimed was “affecting multiple areas of his body, including his chest and internal organs.” An investigation of medical records and healthcare consultations, however, showed the boy was not diagnosed with cancer and that Medicaid was paying for his "legitimate” medical bills.
Starting in Dec. 2024, the couple took their son to the doctor for weight loss and “other medical concerns,” per the release, however evaluations and testing “did not identify cancer or tumors.” Instead, said police, doctors prescribed nutritional recommendations and follow-up care.
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.com 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.com, 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.com.
