A judge in Arkansas has dismissed a murder charge against Aaron Spencer, an Arkansas man who won the Republican nomination for sheriff while awaiting trial. The charge was related to the shooting death of his teenage daughter’s alleged abuser.

Lost Evidence Leads to Dismissal

Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the murder case against Spencer due to lost evidence. A dash camera memory card that could have captured the shooting was lost by law enforcement. This decision came just weeks before the trial on the second-degree murder charge was set to begin.

Judge Wilson stated that the loss of the evidence by law enforcement was significant enough to warrant the dismissal of the case. Spencer was initially charged following the shooting incident involving Michael Fosler in 2024.

Details of the Incident

Spencer’s attorneys acknowledged that he shot Fosler, who faced numerous sexual offense charges against Spencer’s daughter, then 13 years old. On the night of the shooting, Spencer discovered his daughter in the passenger seat of Fosler’s vehicle. Spencer forced Fosler’s vehicle off the road and, after an altercation, called 911 to report the shooting.

Prosecutors argued that Spencer had planned the killing, suggesting he could have contacted the police instead of pursuing Fosler. Spencer pleaded not guilty, asserting his actions were to protect his child.

Community Support

Spencer expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support his family received from the community. He stated that people from Lonoke County and beyond had prayed for them and supported their cause.

Attorney Erin Cassinelli also expressed relief, emphasizing that no family member should have to relive the traumatic events again.

Campaign for Sheriff

Spencer has made his daughter’s ordeal a key component of his campaign for sheriff, promising to focus on combatting sex crimes against children.

The motion to dismiss the case was based on the potential video and audio evidence from Fosler’s dash camera, which could have exonerated Spencer. However, the memory card went missing after a detective failed to properly log it into evidence.

Judge Wilson was appointed to the case after the removal of Judge Barbara Elmore. The Arkansas Supreme Court had determined Elmore’s gag order violated Spencer’s First Amendment rights.