Parents stop at nothing to protect their children, and fathers have a special bond with their little girls. A sacred and unexplainably powerful bond. For instance, a father from Arkansas was charged with first-degree murder after finding his missing daughter with a grown man, and the details are chilling.
Taking Control of the Situation
Aaron Spencer, a 36-year-old father from Arkansas, woke up next to his wife, Heather, at the sound of their dog barking. Aaron went to check and found their 14-year-old daughter missing. They called to report the missing girl around 1 a.m., and the police came out to investigate. However, Aaron couldn’t wait for the police and took matters into his own hands.
Killing His Daughter’s Abuser
He purportedly located his daughter in the car of 67-year-old Michael Fosler from Lonoke County. According to reports, the two men got into an altercation, and things escalated. As a result, Aaron shot Fosler, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Facing Sentencing
The father was taken into custody and then transported to the Lonoke County Detention Center, where he made bail the following morning. He’s currently facing a “preliminary charge for a Class Y Felony” and the possibility of a 10–40-year sentence.
Sharing Their Story Online
Heather, the girl’s mom and Aaron’s wife, has spoken up about the events, accusing the Sheriff’s Department of not “properly overseeing the jail.” As a result, the pair has filed a lawsuit against the department. Moreover, Heather created a lengthy Facebook post following her husband’s arrest.
The Post
“We absolutely called 911 during the entire event,” the woman wrote in a Facebook post. “We had no idea this man was in contact with our child again. He was waiting 6-9 felonies for what he did, not 2. He was looking at the rest of his pathetic life in jail, and our daughter was the only witness.”
The Post Continues
“Some things we will never know, but we know that the police department afforded this predator privacy they did not give our family,” she added. “I’m deeply offended by the way this was handled by the county sheriff’s office. We have gotten a clear picture of a predator who continuously worked with children and preyed on young girls.”
In Conclusion
“This man was Chief of police in Indiana and resource officer, giving us a better idea of why the Lonoke county courts have been protecting him and going after my husband. My husband is a hero and we are so thankful to have him home with us for now,” she added.
“We want to do everything possible to ensure he can continue to be here to protect us,” the woman concluded.
A Second Offense
This isn’t the first encounter the family had with Fosler, nor is it his only encounter with the law for his unsavory behaviors and fantasies. Firstly, the mom disclosed the family had already gotten an on-contact order for Fosler and their daughter after he was caught stalking the young girl. Secondly, Fosler was arrested in July on the grounds of stalking children online and sexual assault. Sadly, he was released and planned a later attack.
Revenue to Cover Legal Expenses
Heather has declared loyalty to her husband and created a GoFundMe page to cover the expenses for his trial and the family’s lawsuit against the Sheriff. However, the GoFundMe page has also created some complications and the page was removed.
Violating Terms of Use
Purportedly, the nature of the page violates GoFundMe’s terms of agreement which states that users can’t raise money for people who’ve been charged with “an alleged violent crime.” As such, the page has been removed and the mother has turned elsewhere to raise funds and is accepting donations through Venmo and CashApp.
“Consistent with this long-standing policy, the fundraiser has been removed from our platform and donations have been refunded,” a spokesperson explained.
The Sheriff Responds
Sheriff Staley posted a video on the police department’s Facebook page explaining that the investigation is ongoing at this time. As a result, limited details have been disclosed. However, a prosecutor will determine and file official charges soon. He’s also gone on record to clear up any confusion about his stance on sexual abuse, approaching the matter with class and discretion. “I have not, nor will I, advocate for any specific charge,” he said. “This is a tragic situation and my thoughts and prayers are with all those involved.”
The Sheriff’s Department Continues
“This guy that preyed upon their daughter was released on bond, and we had stopped him that night and got him with her,” he said, delicately approaching the unsavory subject. “That bond would have been revoked. He would have never got out of jail. None of the bond companies would have let him out. We wouldn’t let him out. We’re in consultation with the prosecuting attorney about what to do in this preliminary stage,” the sheriff continued. “All my deputies and investigators knew at that time is there’s a deceased man, a 14-year-old that was in the truck with him, and a dad saying ‘Hey, I stopped him for this.'”
In Conclusion
The topic is a sensitive subject, but the Sheriff has made it clear that he does “not support predators,” he said. “I’m a daddy. I have three daughters. I know she’s hurt right now, but there’s absolutely nobody I would put ahead of our children, their children, my children. When we get on scene and there’s a homicide, it means one person took the life of another,” Staley added. “It’s either justified or not justified. That’s what the fact finding, that’s what the investigation is going to find out.”
Unfortunately, child abuse and sexual exploitation are painfully common and have detrimental effects on children, their wellbeing, and their mental health. As such, protecting them is essential and can be done through several avenues. For instance, one can report a child abuse case to the Wade Knox Child Advocacy Centerat (501) 676-2552.
