Online Support Surges For Decorated War Hero Who Gunned Down Daughter's Rapist

LONOKE COUNTY, AR- Any man who is the father of a daughter can relate to the Arkansas father who was arrested for fatally shooting a man accused of kidnapping and raping his teenage daughter. Most men worth a damn would be motivated to do the exact same thing. 

On Oct 8, 2024, Aaron Spencer called 911 just after 1 a.m. to report his 13-year-old daughter missing, according to the Arkansas Times. He was awakened by his dog barking when he went to his daughter’s room, where he found she was missing.

Spencer immediately suspected Michael Fosler, 67, who had previously been arrested and charged with sexual offenses involving Spencer’s daughter.

In July 2024, Fosler was arrested and charged with 43 counts, including sexual assault of a minor and internet stalking of a child. 

Spencer went to look for his daughter and Fosler after calling 911, and unfortunately for Fosler, he found them.

On a second 911 call from Spencer, he told the 911 operator that he had found the “man who kidnapped his daughter,” as well as her, and Fosler was “dead on the side of the road,” telling the dispatcher he “had no choice.” Spencer shot Fosler in the chest, abdomen, and arms with his Glock 19 pistol. He then pistol-whipped Fosler and called 911 after reloading his firearm. 

In November, Spencer was charged with second-degree murder and the commission of a felony with a firearm. In court, Spencer’s attorneys said Spencer was “a decorated war hero who protected his country and a loving father whose heroic actions protected his family.” They added that Fosler “repeatedly violated his child” and “kidnapped her in the dark of night to continue his assaults on her.” 

Now, a fundraising campaign has been set up for Spencer through GiveSendGo to support Spencer and his wife, The Post Millennial reports.

The funds will be directed for personal expenses, including therapy and maintaining the family’s financial stability while Spencer goes through court proceedings. 

When the October 2024 abduction occurred, Fosler was under a court-issued “no contact order.” After Spencer was arrested, a judge issued a gag order preventing the media or state officials from commenting on the case.

The Arkansas Supreme Court later vacated that order.

However, fighting that order increased his legal expenses, while limiting public coverage of the case. 

The GiveSendGo campaign was created by Spencer’s sister-in-law, Juanita Musto. She wrote, in explaining the purpose of the crowdfunding:

“My purpose of opening this campaign is to help the Spencer family feel secure in some way during a very challenging, uncertain time. From the original assaults to the night of the kidnapping, and now dealing with mistrust in the local justice system that didn’t protect their daughter (while persecuting her father, a combat veteran, who was forced to), the Spencers have a lot of trauma to work through. They have been spending hundreds of dollars a week on different therapies for their daughter and themselves, all suffering with severe PTSD from the events that have transpired. These therapies have been helpful, but they have a long road ahead of them, and I would like to take as much financial burden off them as possible.” 

Heather Spencer initially attempted to raise funds on GoFundMe, but the campaign was shut down for violating the platform's terms of service against raising money for people charged with violent crimes. 

Texas high school killer Karmelo Anthony’s family had a GoFundMe for his legal defense shut down by the platform for the same reason. 

Thus far, the fundraiser for Aaron Spencer’s family has raised just over $55,000.