What Would You Do? A Father’s Worst Nightmare

In a tragic and legally difficult case out of central Arkansas, a father is now dealing with homicide prices after discovering an older man along with his lacking 14-year-old daughter in a car below allegedly illicit circumstances and capturing him. Aaron Spencer, 36, was arrested for the deadly capturing of 67-year-old Michael Fosler, a person who was already awaiting trial for allegedly sexually assaulting the younger lady a number of months in the past and was below a no-contact order.

Particulars of the Case

The deadly confrontation happened Oct. 8, in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Spencer had been looking for his lacking daughter when he discovered her in a car with Fosler. In accordance with the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Workplace, the 2 males had a confrontation, resulting in Spencer capturing Fosler, who was pronounced useless on the scene.

Fosler had a historical past with Spencer’s household. In July, he had been arrested and charged with web stalking and sexual assault involving the identical 14-year-old lady. He was launched on bond and was scheduled to face trial in December. The Spencers had secured a no-contact order in opposition to him, but on the night time of the capturing, Spencer discovered Fosler in violation of that order, elevating alarm for his daughter’s security. In accordance with studies from USA Immediately, Spencer’s spouse, Heather, expressed the household’s worry that Fosler had taken their daughter to hurt her additional, probably even to kill her.

The Sheriff’s workplace revealed to the information outlet that deputies had been first alerted to the state of affairs after a name a couple of lacking juvenile. Whereas officers had been en route, Spencer reportedly discovered Fosler along with his daughter, which led to the lethal confrontation. Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley later mentioned in a video that investigators are nonetheless piecing collectively precisely what transpired.

Heather Spencer took to social media to defend her husband, calling him a “hero” who acted out of necessity to guard their little one. 

“He was capable of retrieve our little one alive, however within the course of, he was attacked and did what he needed to do to guard himself and our minor little one,” she wrote on Fb, as reported by Newsweek. She additionally expressed frustration with how the case had been dealt with by native authorities to date, stating, “We had no concept this man was in touch with our little one once more…We thought Fosler had taken our daughter to kill her.”

The Spencers had a GoFundMe web page set as much as assist pay for authorized prices, however that was taken down by the web site as per the corporate’s phrases of service that “prohibit fundraisers that increase cash for the authorized protection of anybody formally charged with ‘an alleged violent crime,’” USA Immediately reported. Heather Spencer is taking donations by way of Venmo on her Fb web page and Gun Homeowners of Arkansas (GO-AR), after talking with the household and inspecting the case, have established a authorized protection fund to assist Aaron Spencer.

The GO-AR website additionally shares a letter from Heather Spencer with extra particulars of her household’s ordeal.

“By God’s never-failing grace, my husband handed this man driving on our highway with our minor little one within the car. As quickly because the predator knew my husband was behind him, he ran. The chase led to an accident. Aaron was capable of retrieve our little one alive, however within the course of, he was attacked and did what he needed to do to guard himself and our minor little one. He’s now dealing with an outrageous homicide 1 cost,” Heather Spencer wrote within the letter.

In a press release, Sheriff Staley acknowledged the emotionally charged nature of the case, noting that whereas it’s a tragic state of affairs, it’s the prosecutor’s workplace that can in the end resolve what prices, if any, might be filed. 

The Investigation

“It is a tragic state of affairs, and my ideas and prayers are with all these concerned,” Staley mentioned in a press launch.

In an interview with USA Immediately, Staley additionally mentioned, “”I completely don’t help predators. “I’m a daddy. I’ve three daughters. I do know she’s (the mom) damage proper now, however there’s completely no one I might put forward of our kids, their kids, my kids.”

Because the investigation continues, Spencer has been launched on bail. The fees he faces are preliminary and will change as extra info involves gentle, Staley harassed. If convicted of first-degree homicide, Spencer might face a sentence of as much as life in jail .

How investigators decide the main points of the occasions of the capturing performed out will serve an enormous function within the doable end result of this case. If, in truth, Fosler initiated an assault in opposition to the daddy in response to him attempting to get his daughter again or if it may be decided there was certainly a legit concern for the lady’s speedy welfare and life, Spencer might have a powerful case for self-defense. Arkansas, like many states, additionally acknowledges the suitable to defend third events from imminent critical bodily hurt or dying.

Alternatively, if an understandably irate Spencer, merely pulled Fosler from the automotive and in anger, shot him, whereas a jury of 12 fathers can be arduous pressed to convict him of homicide, the legislation itself takes a dim view of residents meting out justice in such measures. Spencer, except capable of work a plea (which might be possible on this case) or pull a not-guilty verdict based mostly on short-term madness, might be dealing with legit time for this by which case, would such an motion be price it?

It’s a difficult and complex case from a authorized standpoint to say the least.

So, what would you do on this state of affairs? What would any father do?