A vengeful father decided to take matters into his own hands after discovering that his teen daughter had been sexually abused.
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Aaron Spencer fatally shot 67-year-old rapist Michael Folser in October 2024 and was initially charged with second-degree murder.
However, the case against him was dismissed after law enforcement allegedly lost the dash cam memory card that may have held footage of Spencer gunning down the abuser. At the time he fatally shot Folser, the slain abuser was out on bond. Folser was previously charged with dozens of sexual offenses against Spencer's 13-year-old daughter.
"The court finds that conduct by law enforcement was so egregious that dismissal of this case is warranted," wrote Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr.
In October 2024, Spencer noticed that his daughter was not home in the middle of the night. Around 1 AM, the concerned father found his daughter in the passenger seat of Folser's car.
Enraged by this, Spencer allegedly fatally shot Folser after ramming the truck off the road.
The case was dismissed weeks before Spencer was scheduled to go on trial for the second-degree murder charge.
Aaron Spencer Makes Sheriff Campaign Bid
Spencer's attorney, Erin Cassinelli, said she is thankful for the court's decision.
"No member of this family should ever again be forced to walk into a courtroom and relive this horror," she said in a statement. "This father should have never been charged for protecting his child."
After his case was dismissed, Spencer decided to run for sheriff. During his campaign announcement video,
Spencer said his mission is to improve safety in Lonoke County."I'm the father who acted to protect his daughter when the system failed,"
Spencer said.In March, Spencer won the GOP nomination over the three-term incumbent sheriff of Lonoke County. The Arkansas region is home to roughly 76,000 residents.
The New York Times reported that Spencer is favored to win the general election, too.
