Murder Charge Dropped Against Arkansas Father After Judge Cites Critical Police Evidence Error
An Arkansas judge has dismissed murder charges against Army veteran and sheriff candidate Aaron Spencer, who was accused of fatally shooting a man he said was involved in the sexual assault of his teenage daughter, after finding that key police mishandling of evidence undermined his right to a fair trial.
Spencer had been charged with second-degree murder in the October 2024 shooting of 67-year-old Michael Fosler in Lonoke County. Prosecutors alleged Spencer discovered Fosler alone with his daughter in a pickup truck late at night and later forced the vehicle off the road before calling 911 to report the shooting.
Court records show Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. dismissed the case, ruling that law enforcement’s handling of critical digital evidence, including a dash-camera SD card, was “egregious” enough to warrant the rare step of dropping the charges. The defense argued the SD card, which may have contained key video footage, was lost and its chain of custody was never properly explained.
The judge found that the missing evidence significantly impaired Spencer’s ability to present a defense, violating his right to a fair trial. The decision was described in court documents as being based on the “totality of the circumstances” and the specific failures in evidence handling by investigators.
Spencer has acknowledged shooting Fosler but pleaded not guilty to murder. His defense team and supporters argued he was acting to protect his daughter, while prosecutors maintained the case warranted trial. The case had been scheduled for a jury hearing later this month before the dismissal.
Court records also indicate Fosler had previously faced sexual offense allegations involving Spencer’s daughter and was out on bond at the time of the incident. The case has drawn significant public attention due to its circumstances and the judge’s ruling on law enforcement’s handling of evidence.
