Judge drops murder charge against Arkansas sheriff

A judge has dropped the murder charge against Arkansas sheriff candidate Aaron Spencer, who killed a man accused of sexually abusing his daughter.

1. Frame 1A judge dismissed Aaron Spencer's murder charge, putting the Arkansas sheriff nominee back before November voters.
2. Frame 2The case centered on Michael Fosler, charged with sexually abusing Spencer's 13-year-old daughter before the 2024 shooting.
3. Frame 3Spencer's lawyers said he shot to protect his child after finding her in Fosler's truck on October 8.
4. Frame 4Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. cited lost dash-camera evidence and called law enforcement's conduct egregious.
5. Frame 5Spencer won the March Republican primary against the three-term sheriff whose office arrested him.
6. Frame 6The ruling ends the trial, but voters still weigh the killing, evidence loss, and sheriff's race.