Murder charge dropped against Arkansas sheriff candidate who shot daughter's abuser
Aaron Spencer, 37, shot dead Michael Fosler after finding his 13-year-old daughter in the man's truck. The case was dismissed after key evidence was lost.
Arkansas sheriff's race candidate cleared after murder charge dropped over lost evidence
Aaron Spencer, a 37-year-old US Army combat veteran and candidate for sheriff in Lonoke County, Arkansas, says he is focused on "family and getting back to a normal life" following the dismissal of a second-degree murder charge against him, theguardian.com reports.
The charge stemmed from the 8 October 2024 shooting death of Michael Fosler, 67, in Lonoke. Spencer never denied firing the fatal shot, but maintained throughout the proceedings that he acted to protect his daughter from a predator.
On the night in question, Spencer woke at around 1am to discover his 13-year-old daughter was missing from her bedroom. He drove out searching for her and eventually found her in the passenger seat of a truck driven by Fosler. Spencer forced the vehicle off the highway, a confrontation ensued, and he shot Fosler before calling emergency services.
At the time of his death, Fosler had been released on a $50,000 bond and was facing more than 40 criminal charges, including sexual assault, sexual indecency with a child, possession of child abuse imagery, and internet stalking of a child. Spencer's daughter was the sole witness connected to those charges.
Prosecutors charged Spencer with intentionally and unlawfully killing Fosler, arguing he could have called law enforcement rather than pursuing him. Spencer pleaded not guilty.
The case was dismissed on Thursday by Arkansas state circuit court Judge Ralph Wilson, who cited the loss of a dashboard camera memory card from Fosler's truck — evidence that may have contained footage of the shooting. Wilson ruled that the loss of that material "was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted," also referencing its "unique, specific and particular facts and circumstances."
In a statement following the ruling, Spencer said: "I'm grateful this chapter is closed," adding that he was "more committed … than ever" to his campaign for Lonoke County sheriff — a race he is favoured to win.
Spencer entered the sheriff's race citing his experience inside the criminal justice system as motivation. In a closed Republican primary in March, he defeated the incumbent sheriff John Staley — the same official who had overseen Spencer's arrest. That victory advanced him to a November general election against Democratic candidate Brian Mitchell Sr in a heavily Republican county.
His post-dismissal statement also addressed supporters who had backed him during the legal proceedings. "I want to thank the people … who stood with us when it would have been easier to look the other way," it read. The statement closed with a pledge toward the county: "Together, we can build a safer and stronger … county."
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)