Rally to drop murder charges against Aaron Spencer Arkansas man after the father shooting and killing sexual predator, Michael Fosler who had previously sexually assaulted 14 year old daughter as he fled the family home with teen girl last week.
Social media users have rallied behind an Arkansas family to have murder charges dropped after a father shot and killed a man with a prior sexual predator history after the man was found to be with their missing 14 year old daughter, after allegedly raping the teen earlier this year.
Heather Spencer, 37, said their daughter had been targeted, groomed and raped by Michael Fosler, 67, who was the boyfriend of a family friend in April.
Fosler was charged and booked with rape and internet stalking of a child on July 11. But the 67-year-old was soon released on $50,000 bond, with a court hearing in December.
Justified killing?
But it wasn’t to be.
Last Tuesday, Heather and her husband Aaron Spencer, 36, who now faces first degree murder charges, woke up to their dog barking. When they went to check on their daughter, they found the 14 year old teen missing.
Aaron got into his truck to find the teen girl while a 911 was made to police. Shortly after the father found the 67-year-old man with their daughter as he fled the scene by car.
A chase ensued, with Fosler taking off with their daughter in tow. Aaron was able to grab her after the fleeing car crashed, but was allegedly attacked – leading him to shoot and kill the 67-year-old.
The incident led to Aaron Spencer being charged with first degree murder.
Heather has vehemently supported her husband – calling him a hero and asking for donations to help the family following her husband’s arrest.
A family takes a search for justice into their own hands
Wrote the mom on a donation board: ‘My husband is a combat veteran, who has always protected his country and family. I have no doubt our child would have not come home if my husband hadn’t found her.’
Adding: ‘We have also received numerous stories of other victims that received no justice after this man attacked them. The system failed over and over to put away a predator. Everywhere this man went he preyed on weak young girls.
‘We have a lot of big emotions right now as we piece together what has happened and how it was able to happen. Please continue to pray for us and share our story.
‘My husband is a hero and we are so thankful to have him home with us for now. We want to do everything possible to ensure he can continue to be here to protect us.’
‘We are private people, so all of this being public has been very difficult,’ Heather Spencer shared on Facebook, Wednesday afternoon.
In her post, she said the family had a no-contact order in place for Fosler due to stalking.
‘We absolutely called 911 during the entire event,’ Heather Spencer wrote. ‘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.’
‘Some things we will never know, but we know that the police department afforded this predator privacy they did not give our family,’ the post continued. ‘I’m deeply offended by the way this was handled by the county sheriff’s office.’
The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Officer released a statement on Wednesday that corroborated the family’s version of events.
‘A confrontation between the two adult males ensued, which resulted in a shooting. Deputies immediately initiated an investigation. Michael Fosler was pronounced dead at the scene, and Aaron Spencer was taken into custody.’
Aaron was preliminary charged with Murder in the First Degree – a felony that can carry a maximum term of life in prison and placed in custody on a $150K bond.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley clarified in a video that official charges have not been filed and that he’s not advocating for a specific charge after the police department received wide backlash over Aaron’s arrest – with some accusing the police of being corrupt.
Police respond to murder charges
Staley told USA Today that Fosler had been arrested by a different law enforcement agency in July for internet stalking of a child and sexual assault.
Staley said: ‘I absolutely do 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.’
The sheriff said law enforcement doesn’t file charges and they submit evidence to a prosecuting attorney who will decide whether or not to file the charges.
Nevertheless users on Facebook have now rallied behind the family, saying the family is the real victim and that the father was only protecting his daughter from further potential harm.
Wrote one user: ‘Praying for your family that justice will be served. We must protect our children from sex abusers as they serve no purpose in our society. Stay strong in faith and keep fighting this horrific evil attack.’
Another wrote: ‘I am so sorry that this has happened to you and your family. I pray that your daughter will heal from this and that her Daddy will always be there with her and not in jail. He is a true hero and should be exonerated from this.’
Heather said they were able to post the $150,000 bond on 1.12pm on Wednesday according to USA Today from their supporters. The family were now seeking to raise funds to retain attorneys for Aaron.
Come Friday, Heather Spencer posted that the family was working with Gun Owners of America to set up a donation link for legal fees after their GoFundMe was taken down (the site forbids fundraisers for individuals with pending or current criminal charges)
The mom said they’re overwhelmed with the amount of loving they’re receiving on social media and that other people have come forward alleging to be victims of Fosler.
