US father arrested after allegedly killing man found with his missing daughter

A father in the US has been arrested after allegedly killing a man who was found in a vehicle with his missing teenage daughter.

An Arkansas father has been arrested after allegedly shooting and killing a man who was found in a vehicle with his missing 14-year-old daughter.

Aaron Spencer reported his daughter missing last Tuesday, Fox News reports, prompting Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office to dispatch officers to his home.

But as officers were on their way to the home, they learned the 36-year-old had found his daughter in a car with Michael Fosler, 67. A confrontation ensued between the two men before Mr Spencer allegedly shot and killed Mr Fosler.

Police arrested Mr Spencer on a preliminary charge of first-degree murder. He was taken to the Lonoke County Detention Centre before being released the next day after posting bail.

Aaron Spencer, 36, was arrested on a preliminary charge of first-degree murder. Picture: Lonoke County Detention Centre

Sheriff John Staley said in a since-removed video on Facebook that Mr Spencer has not been formally charged yet and that the District Attorney’s Office will decide which charges to file.

“This is a tragic situation and my thoughts and prayers are with all involved,” Sheriff Staley said.

Mr Spencer’s wife, Heather, said on Facebook that Mr Fosler had a “no contact order” with her daughter for allegedly stalking and raping the 14-year-old in recent months, and that she and her husband feared he might kill her.

She said that she and her husband were unaware Mr Fosler was in contact with their child again.

“We absolutely called 911 during the entire event,” Ms Spencer wrote.

“We had no idea this man was in contact with our child again. He was waiting 6-9 felonies for what he did, not 2. He was looking at the rest of his pathetic life in jail, and our daughter was the only witness.

“Some things we will never know, but we know that the police department afforded this predator privacy they did not give our family.

“I’m deeply offended by the way this was handled by the county (sheriff’s) office.”

Ms Spencer added: “At the end of the day, our daughter is a victim and we have a long road of recovery for everyone. We are so thankful for all the calls, messages and prayers.”

Mr Spencer's wife described her husband as 'a hero' in a post on Facebook. Picture: Facebook

Mr Fosler had been arrested by another law enforcement agency in July for internet stalking of a child and sexual assault, Sheriff Staley told USA TODAY.

“I absolutely do not support predators. I’m a daddy. I have three daughters,” he said.

“I know (Ms Spencer) is hurt right now, but there’s absolutely nothing I would put ahead of our children, their children, my children.”

The sheriff said deputies are looking into what happened leading up to the shooting.

“When we get on scene and there’s a homicide, it means one person took the life of another,” Sheriff Staley said.

“It’s either justified or not justified. That’s what the fact finding, that’s what the investigation is going to find out.”

Police are looking into what happened leading up to the shooting. Picture: AFP Photo/Bryan R Smith

Ms Spencer had set up a GoFundMe to pay for her husband’s legal fees, but GoFundMe removed the fundraiser and returned the money to donors. GoFundMe’s terms of service prohibit fundraisers from raising money for the legal defence of anyone formally charged with an alleged violent crime.

Because of this, the woman is now accepting money on Venmo and Cash App.

“My husband is a hero and we are so thankful to have him home with us for now,” she wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.

“We want to do everything possible to ensure he can continue to be here to protect us.”

She also thanked other victims who reached out to her with allegations that Mr Fosler had attacked them.

“We have gotten a clear picture of a predator who continuously worked with children and preyed on young girls,” she wrote.

“This man was Chief (sic) of police in Indiana and resource officer, giving us a better idea of why the Lonoke county courts have been protecting him and going after my husband.”

The incident remains under investigation.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as US father arrested after allegedly killing man found with his missing daughter