The wife of a man who killed their teen daughter’s alleged rapist and kidnapper has said her husband was acting as any father would when forced to protect their child.
Heather Spencer, 38, said her husband Aaron Spencer, 37, saved their daughter’s life when he shot dead a 67-year-old man who abducted the teen from their farm in Cabot, Arkansas, about 25 miles from Little Rock.
The 14-year-old girl had been targeted, groomed and raped by Michael Fosler, who was the boyfriend of a family friend, according to police.
Fosler was charged and arrested with rape and internet stalking of a child in July, 2024, but was released on a $50,000 bond before he kidnapped the teen, then 13, in October.
In an interview with CNN, Heather said her daughters’ life was in danger when she was abducted, and that her husband, a former Army soldier, did what any parent would have done to save their child.
‘What parent is going to say, «Hey, 911. We called you a minute ago, but it turns out I found her with the guy who’s been assaulting her for months. And they took a left on the highway. I hope you can find him,»‘ she told the outlet.
‘You kind of assume the risk that somebody is going to shoot you when you rape children … and then you rape them some more.’
Heather recalled the terrifying moment she and her husband realized their daughter was missing from her room at midnight on October 8, 2024.
Heather Spencer, 38, said her husband Aaron Spencer, 37, as acting as any father would when he killed his teen daughter’s alleged rapist
Michael Fosler (pictured) was charged and booked with rape and internet stalking of a child on July 11, 2024. But Heather said the 67-year-old was released quickly on a $50,000 bond and then kidnapped her teen daughter
Aaron Spencer was initially charged with first-degree murder but Lonoke County prosecutors reduced the charge to second-degree murder
‘Statistics and horror stories race through my mind. My baby. My little girl. All I could do was pray,’ Heather said.
Aaron fired his gun at Fosler until he ran out of bullets. He then jumped on Fosler and pistol-whopped him, according to police
The teen’s parents called 911 but decided to go looking for their daughter themselves after they learned their daughter had been having contact with Fosler following his release from jail, despite a no-contact order, Heather said.
‘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,’ Heather said.
After driving about 10 miles, they spotted Fosler’s vehicle – and their daughter in his passenger seat, Aaron told police, according to court documents.
Aaron then made a U-turn and began pursuing Fesler’s car, eventually rear-ending it and forcing it off the road. The father told police he saw his daughter trying to exit the vehicle before Fesler grabbed her.
Aaron said he told Fesler to get out of the car but that the man ‘lunged towards him’ with something in his hand as he shouted ‘f**k you.’ Police have not said whether Fesler was armed.
Fosler kidnapped their daughter on October 8. Aaron (pictured) got into his truck to find the 14-year-old after calling 911
Heather said her daughters’ life was in danger when she was abducted, and that her husband, a former Army soldier, did what any parent would have done to save their child
Moments later, Aaron fired his gun at Fosler until he ran out of bullets. He then jumped on Fosler and pistol-whopped him, according to police.
Aaron then called 911 and said his daughter’s kidnapper was ‘dead on the side of the road,’ and that ‘he had no choice’ but to shoot him.
He was initially charged with first-degree murder but Lonoke County prosecutors reduced the charge to second-degree murder.
Heather insisted her husband is a peaceful person who does not deserve to be treated as a criminal.
‘You really couldn’t ask for a better husband or father,’ she said. ‘His support and love for his family is strong and unwavering.’
The Spencers’ case has captured the nation’s attention, with some hailing Aaron as a hero and others arguing the parents should have left police handle the situation.
Various petitions demanding charges against Aaron be dropped by have been signed by over 350,000 people, and a state gun rights group has taken up his cause.
Aaron’s trial is scheduled to begin in January, 2026.
