Aaron Spencer, a 37-year-old Arkansas father and candidate for Lonoke County sheriff, is no longer facing a second-degree murder charge after a judge dismissed the case on Thursday, June 4.
Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the case after it was found that a Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office detective had lost a dash-camera memory card that may have captured the shooting.
According to court documents cited by People, the missing evidence may have contained potentially exculpatory information that could not be replaced through other means.
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5 key things to know about Aaron Spencer
1. Spencer was charged with killing a man accused of abusing his daughter. Spencer was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Michael Fosler, 67.
Fosler allegedly sexually molested Spencer’s 13-year-old daughter between June and July 2024. In September of that year, he was accused of numerous sexual charges against Spencer’s daughter.
Fosler had been released on bond when he was fatally shot on October 8, 2024.
2. Spencer argued that he shot Fosler to protect his child. According to court records cited by People, Spencer pleaded not guilty and maintained that his actions were driven by a desire to protect his daughter. The night of the shooting, he reportedly discovered that his daughter was missing and later located her riding in a vehicle driven by Fosler.
Court documents state that Spencer forced Fosler’s vehicle off the highway. After Fosler exited the vehicle, Spencer fired at him. He then brought his daughter into his own vehicle, reloaded his firearm and called 911, informing dispatchers that he had shot Fosler.
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3. Spencer’s murder case was dismissed because of a lack of evidence. In a recent development, Judge Wilson dismissed the murder charge, describing the remedy as “extraordinary and extreme.”
It was discovered in April 2026 that a Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office detective had misplaced video evidence that could have captured the shooting.
Defense attorneys argued that law enforcement failed to properly document and preserve the evidence. They argued that the missing evidence aligns with the “bad faith” argument.
Wilson said that despite the “extreme” remedy, “The totality of the circumstances and the unique, specific, and particular facts and circumstances of this case, the Court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted.”
4. Spencer is running for sheriff in Lonoke County. Months before the case was dismissed, Spencer launched a campaign for Lonoke County Sheriff, presenting himself as someone who experienced failures within the justice system firsthand.
In announcing his candidacy, he said he acted to protect his daughter when “the system failed” and pledged to address shortcomings in law enforcement and the courts.
Spencer said, “I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed. And through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court. I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures.”
5. Spencer won the Republican Primary in March 2026. Spencer’s campaign gained momentum despite his pending criminal case. According to reporting cited by People, he secured approximately 53.5% of the vote in the Republican primary on March 3. He is now expected to face Democratic candidate Brian Mitchell Sr. in the general election later this year.