Aaron Spencer, the Arkansas man who made headlines last year after being arrested for the killing of a man accused of raping his 14-year-old daughter, is now entering the political arena. With his trial scheduled for next year, Spencer has announced his candidacy for sheriff of Lonoke County.
Court records indicate that in October 2024, Spencer discovered his daughter missing from her home. After a car chase, he reportedly caught up with 67-year-old Michael Fosler, who had the girl in his vehicle, according to The Independent. Fosler had previously been released on bail while facing multiple sexual offense charges, with Spencer’s daughter named as a victim.
Spencer is accused of shooting Fosler to death and subsequently calling 911 to report the incident, claiming Fosler had lunged at him before he fired.
In announcing his campaign on Facebook, Spencer referenced the killing as central to his motivation for seeking office. “Many of you know my story. I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,” he said.
He highlighted his background, noting, “I’m also a husband, combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division, a contractor, and a farmer.” He added, “Through my own fight for justice, I have seen firsthand the failures in law enforcement and in our circuit court. And I refuse to stand by while others face these same failures.”
Spencer framed his campaign as a broader effort to restore safety and trust in the community. “This campaign isn’t about me; it’s about every parent, every neighbor, every family who deserves to feel safe in their homes and safe in their community,” he said.
“Together, we can build a safer and stronger Lonoke County for every family,” Spencer concluded, positioning his candidacy as a response to perceived gaps in the local justice system.
This is how you do it!!! Let’s gooo!!! #AaronSpencer for sheriff! #Arkansas pic.twitter.com/69knn8vl15
— NOLA NURSE🇺🇸 (@NOLA_NURSE_RN) October 12, 2025
According to KATV-TV, Aaron Spencer has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Dec. 16, with his trial set to begin Jan. 26.
Lonoke County Sheriff Jeff Staley, meanwhile, has announced plans to seek re-election, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
In a now-deleted fundraising post supporting her husband, Spencer’s wife, Heather, described the circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation. She said their daughter had been “targeted, groomed and ultimately raped by the boyfriend of a family friend,” as reported by The Independent.
“We let the justice system do its job. The monster who hurt our child was charged quickly, but released even faster on a $50k bond,” she wrote, noting that he was awaiting court in December on several felony charges related to the assault.
Heather Spencer called her husband a “hero,” adding, “Our child would not have come home if my husband hadn’t found her.”