‘The system failed’: Man facing murder charge for killing daughter’s alleged rapist wins Republican primary
The people of Lonoke County, Arkansas, have spoken. Tuesday Republicans there chose an accused murderer to be their nominee for sheriff.
Aaron Spencer, a combat veteran, threw his hat in the ring after he was arrested and charged with shooting and killing a 67-year-old man after tracking down his car and running it off the road. The vehicle had Spencer’s 13-year-old daughter inside, and the man, Michael Fosler, was facing more than 40 child-sex related charges involving the girl.
Spencer’s wife says their daughter was “targeted, groomed and ultimately raped by the boyfriend of a family friend.”
Said Spencer, 37, at the time of his announcement as a candidate: “I’m the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed. … I did what any good father would do.”
According to election records, Spencer received 53.5% of the vote, while longtime incumbent John Staley received 26.5% in the Republican primary race. A third candidate got nearly 20% of the vote.
With Donald Trump having won 75% of the vote in 2024, Spencer is nearly assured the office of sheriff – though the November election likely will occur after his scheduled trial on second-degree murder charges.
As CNN reports, “Tuesday’s primary victory creates an unusual scenario by positioning Spencer to become sheriff of the county that charged him with murder.”
Here is Spencer’s announcement video:
JUST IN: Man accused of killing his daughter’s rap*st wins the Republican primary for county sheriff in central Arkansas.
Aaron Spencer, who is awaiting his murder trial, received over 53% of the vote in Lonoke County.
Last year, Spencer announced on social media that he was… pic.twitter.com/aMAwSqYZVi
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 4, 2026