A 23-year-old Florida man is facing manslaughter charges in the death of his 3-month-old godson, with a newly unsealed arrest affidavit revealing a chilling moment during police questioning where the suspect allegedly laughed and snapped a doll’s head back while reenacting the infant’s fatal choking incident.
Background
The case centers on the death of Skylar Fisk, who died after choking on formula at an apartment complex in the 3200 block of Meridius Place in Kissimmee, Florida. On March 5, 2024, deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for an unresponsive infant around 11:40 a.m. Paramedics rushed Skylar to a hospital, where he subsequently died.
According to the probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, Skylar’s mother was taking a shower at the time of the incident and had left Dane Edwards, the boy’s godfather who lived in the home, in charge of caring for the infant. The mother told investigators that she had explicitly asked everyone in the household not to use a stuffed toy to prop up Skylar’s bottle because she was concerned he could choke.
When the mother emerged from the shower, she heard Edwards running with Skylar in his arms, screaming that the baby was not breathing. She immediately began CPR, noting that formula was coming out of Skylar’s mouth and nose. Doctors later found a "voluminous amount" of milk formula in the boy’s esophagus, indicating aspiration.
The Investigation
Authorities spent more than two years investigating the incident, with autopsy results finally returning in October 2025. The medical examiner determined that milk-based formula was found in Skylar’s lungs and classified the death as "preventable." Cops stated that the timeline showed at least an hour passed during which Skylar was left with an 8-ounce feeding bottle propped up by a stuffed sloth toy, unsupervised.
During interviews, Edwards initially claimed he had placed the bottle on the floor and that Skylar was strong enough to push it away. However, detectives disputed this, stating it was "not possible" for an infant of that age to do so. To clarify the events, detectives asked Edwards to reenact how he fed Skylar using a doll. During this demonstration, Edwards allegedly picked up the doll, snapped its head back, said, "I killed it," and laughed. He then demonstrated the traditional way he claimed to feed the baby, before allegedly admitting to using the stuffed sloth to prop the bottle against Skylar’s mouth while the infant was in a baby swing.
Edwards became combative when pressed on why he used the stuffed animal, stating he did it "all the time" and demanding a lawyer if he was going to be "grilled" about his "dead f—ing son." Before the interview concluded, he allegedly appeared to accept responsibility, stating, "If this falls on anyone, it's me."
The Charges
Dane Edwards has been charged with manslaughter by aggravated child abuse. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant in May. Edwards was subsequently arrested in Missouri and extradited to Florida, where he was booked into the Osceola County Jail.
Detectives concluded that Edwards, "through culpable negligence, caused the premature death of Skylar Fisk by propping a feeding bottle with a stuffed toy and leaving the infant unattended for an extended period of time." The affidavit notes that by his own admission, Edwards knew the practice was unsafe and could result in death, demonstrating a "gross disregard for human life."
Key Takeaways
- Dane Edwards, 23, is charged with manslaughter by aggravated child abuse in the death of 3-month-old Skylar Fisk.
- An affidavit alleges Edwards laughed and snapped a doll’s head back during a police reenactment, saying, "I killed it."
- The infant died after choking on formula from a bottle propped up by a stuffed sloth toy while left unsupervised for at least an hour.
- Edwards was arrested in Missouri and extradited to Florida, where he is currently held in Osceola County Jail.
- The medical examiner ruled the death "preventable," finding milk-based formula in the infant’s lungs.
What's Next
Edwards remains in custody at the Osceola County Jail pending his initial appearance and arraignment. As the investigation has concluded with the filing of charges, legal proceedings will now focus on the preliminary hearing, where prosecutors will present evidence to a judge to determine if there is probable cause to hold Edwards for trial. Defense counsel is expected to challenge the interpretation of the affidavit, particularly regarding the alleged admissions made during the police interview.