A father in Arkansas has been taken into custody following the shooting death of a man believed to be stalking his underage daughter, whom he discovered after she had gone missing on Tuesday.
Aaron Spencer, 36, had notified authorities about his 14-year-old daughter’s disappearance earlier that day, prompting deputies from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office to respond to his residence.
However, prior to their arrival, Spencer discovered his daughter inside a car with Michael Fosler, 67, leading to a fatal confrontation, as stated by the sheriff.
According to Heather Spencer, Spencer’s wife, this was not the family’s initial interaction with Fosler, as they had previously established a “no contact order” against him.
A mother took to social media to claim that an older man had been stalking and assaulting her teenage daughter throughout the summer, expressing concerns for her child’s safety and the potential for further harm.
In July, Folser faced arrest for the internet stalking of a minor and sexual assault by another law enforcement agency, as reported by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley to USA Today. He has since been released on bond.
Both parents were unaware that Fosler had made contact with their daughter again.
A tense encounter unfolded when the girl’s father discovered the suspected assailant with his daughter, leading to a fierce clash between the two men, after which Aaron Spencer reportedly shot and killed Fosler, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
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Law enforcement officials who initially answered the call shifted their focus, taking Aaron Spencer into custody on an initial accusation of first-degree murder. He was taken into custody at the Lonoke County Detention Center, but was released the next day after posting bail.
Staley mentioned that the charge remains unofficial, leaving the local district attorney with the discretion to determine if the involved father will face prosecution.
However, his wife criticized the sheriff’s office for their lack of diligence in managing the case.
Authorities are actively looking into the events that preceded the shooting. The purpose of the investigation is to uncover any solid rationale behind the killing, he stated.