​A judge has dismissed the murder case against Aaron Spencer, a Lonoke County man whose case drew national attention after he shot and killed a man accused of raping his underage daughter. The alleged abuser, who was out on bond, was found with Spencer’s daughter again when the shooting occurred.

​On June 4, 2026, Special Circuit Court Judge Ralph Wilson Jr. threw out the charges due to a severe due process violation. The dismissal comes after the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office lost an SD memory card from a dash camera inside the alleged abuser’s vehicle.

​Spencer’s defense argued the missing video was critical to proving his actions were justified, as it could have shown the man refusing to release the girl.

​While acknowledging that throwing out a murder case is an “extraordinary and extreme remedy,” Judge Wilson ruled that the loss of evidence by law enforcement completely impaired Spencer’s right to a fair trial. Citing the egregious nature of the mistake, the judge ordered the case officially dismissed.