Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
The wife of a US military veteran who has been charged with murdering a man accused of sexually abusing and kidnapping his daughter has broken her silence, claiming the family ‘couldn’t ask for a better husband or father’.
In July 2024, Arkansas' Aaron Spencer, 37, and his wife Heather were informed that their 13-year-old daughter had allegedly been sexually assaulted multiple times by a person she met at a family friend’s house.
The alleged abuser, named as 67-year-old Michael Fosler, had reportedly been messaging the young girl via text.
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He was later arrested by police and hit with 43 charges, including internet stalking and pandering or possessing child pornography, but was released on a $50,000 bond, as per CNN.
According to an emotional Facebook post written by Heather, a no-contact order had been issued against Fosler, which the family believed would help keep the accused away from their daughter.
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“We let the law run its course, and … trusted that this man would be served justice under the law,” she claimed.
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“While we were happy that he was quickly arrested, we were not privy to the fact that he was released on a low bond with zero supervision.”
Aaron Spencer had ‘no choice’ but to take matters into his own hands
Despite the no-contact order, Aaron and Heather discovered that Fosler had digitally approached their child on October 6, allegedly sending a Cash App payment for the child and her cousin to use.
On October 8, Aaron and Heather discovered their teenage daughter was missing from their home, with the latter reporting her disappearance via 911, as per the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office.
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“In that moment we realized that she may have been taken, but it’s the middle of the night and everything is happening in seconds and every second counts,” she wrote via social media.
“I tell 911 that this man may be involved and as I’m speaking, I’m realizing that if he does have her, I’ll probably never see her again.”
An alleged arrest affidavit said that Cabot police were asked to send officers to Fosler’s residence.
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Aaron, however, took matters into his own hands, telling police that when he saw Fosler’s truck on the highway, he rammed it off the road and reportedly fired at him before calling 911, the affidavit stated.
It’s understood the farmer, who formerly served time with the 82nd Airborne - an elite division trained to mobilize worldwide within hours - told the dispatcher that the ‘man who kidnapped’ his daughter was ‘dead on the side of the road’.
He added he had ‘no choice’ but to allegedly defend his daughter.
Aaron Spencer’s wife breaks silence
Speaking about Aaron, who was arrested on a preliminary charge of first-degree murder last October, his wife Heather said he was an ‘animal whisperer’ who loved creatures great and small.
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“He has never met an animal that doesn’t love him. Whether they are ours, our friends, or strays,” she told CNN.
“Over our five years of farming, we have raised everything from sheep to quail … When we had a sick ram, he spent six weeks bringing him back into health, going out every two hours even through the night to give meds and help him stand until he regained his strength.”
The Spencer family live on a farm near Cabot, some 25 miles from the state capital of Little Rock.
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According to Heather, her husband - who was deployed to Iraq as a paratrooper in the late 2000s - was a devoted family man who had been taking his children fishing since they were ‘old enough to carry a tackle box’.
She added: “You really couldn’t ask for a better husband or father. His support and love for his family is strong and unwavering.”
“This case has changed nearly every part of our daily lives,” Heather Spencer said to CNN.
“Not long ago, my biggest concern was whether my sourdough was rising. My days were filled with baking. Now they’re filled with therapy appointments, legal updates and the constant focus on keeping my husband home while helping my family navigate an unthinkable reality.”
Aaron Spencer trial will begin next year
In the wake of Aaron’s arrest, Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said he would not ‘advocate for any specific charge’. He instead said that the decision would rest with prosecutors.
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In November 2023, the man’s charge was reduced from first-degree murder to second-degree murder.
Aaron will head to court in December before his trial is set to commence on January 26, 2026.
A petition has been set up to absolve the father of the charges and raise money for his family via GiveSendGo.
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The campaign, created by Heather’s sister, Juanita Musto, has banked $63,305 in donations thus far.
“I am making this campaign for my sister and brother-in-law (Heather & Aaron Spencer) and their children as they navigate their lives after the devastating trauma they’ve been through,” the page read.
“This is for their personal use, such as therapy measures and keeping their family afloat amid Aaron’s daunting legal proceedings, *(edit) as well as legal fees.”
You can donate here.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Ella Scott