Aaron Spencer, a 36-year-old Arkansas resident, was arrested following a fatal shooting incident involving a man he suspected of stalking his 14-year-old daughter. The incident unfolded after Spencer reported his daughter missing, prompting a response from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office. Before the deputies could arrive, Spencer found his daughter in a car with 67-year-old Michael Fosler, which led to a deadly altercation.
This was not the first encounter between Fosler and the Spencer family. Heather Spencer, Aaron’s wife, revealed that they had previously secured a “no contact order” against Fosler. Heather alleged in a social media post that Fosler had stalked and sexually assaulted their daughter during the summer, raising concerns about potential further harm.
In July, Fosler was arrested on charges of internet stalking of a minor and sexual assault by a different law enforcement agency. He was later released on bond, according to Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley. The parents were not aware that Fosler had reestablished contact with their daughter.
The situation escalated when Spencer discovered Fosler with his daughter, leading to a heated argument and resulting in Spencer allegedly shooting and killing Fosler. Deputies arriving on the scene shifted their focus to arresting Spencer on a preliminary charge of first-degree murder. He was held at the Lonoke County Detention Center but was released after posting bail the following day.
Sheriff Staley clarified that the charge is not official and the decision to prosecute Spencer lies with the local district attorney. Heather, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the sheriff’s office’s handling of the case on social media.
Sheriff Staley, in a social media video, stated that no formal charges have been filed against Spencer. He voiced his opposition to predators and expressed sympathy for the family. The sheriff’s office is still investigating the events leading up to the shooting to determine any valid justification for the homicide.
In the interim, Heather has established accounts on Venmo and CashApp to raise funds for her husband’s legal defense fees. She initially started a GoFundMe campaign, but it was removed as the platform’s terms of service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of individuals charged with alleged violent crimes.