Two parents in Florida have been arrested after they allegedly pretended their son had cancer and participated in a despicable medical fundraising scheme, only to spend the money they raised on retail items and at restaurants.
Edward Downing and Stephanie Skeris were charged with scheme to defraud, communications fraud and neglect of a child on February 27, according to a press release from the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. All of the charges they’re facing are third-degree felonies.
Both Downing and Skeris have pleaded not guilty and they have since been released on bond, according to court records viewed by Oxygen.
Police said that the parents have been accused of soliciting money for their 15-year-old son’s cancer diagnosis, which they claimed was “affecting multiple areas of his body, including his chest and internal organs.”
An investigation was launched into the matter and authorities looked at the teen’s medical records and healthcare consultations. Authorities soon learned that the boy was not diagnosed with cancer, and they also discovered that Medicaid was paying for his “legitimate” medical bills.
Beginning in December 2024, Downing and Skeris took their son to the doctor for weight loss and “other medical concerns.” The press release stated that the evaluations and testing “did not identify cancer or tumors.” Police said that the doctors instead prescribed nutritional recommendations and follow-up care for the teen.
While the boy was not diagnosed with cancer, the couple allegedly misrepresented the state of his health to “community members, businesses, and media outlets.” Events and fundraisers were also held, with donations being collected for his alleged medical expenses.
The couple even set up a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for their son’s alleged treatment and a surgery. A spokesperson for GoFundMe told Oxygen that the fundraiser only “raised $25 from one donor” and the “donation was refunded under the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.”
The sheriff’s office said that investigators discovered a bank account specifically set up for the boy’s medical bills. However, 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,” the press release stated. “The juvenile was placed in protective care, where medical providers continued to evaluate and treat.”
The Dixie County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
One year ago, the couple spoke to news station WCJB about their son’s alleged diagnosis.
“I don’t really know how to take this,” Downing said in a March 2025 interview. “As a father, all I can do is love him day by day, just hoping he gets better.”
Meanwhile, Skeris told the outlet that a fundraiser had helped “tremendously” in their efforts to pay their son’s medical bills.
“The littlest things in life matter,” Skeris said. “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.”
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