A pastor whose wife took her own life weeks after reporting alleged abuse within their marriage has been relieved of his ministerial duties.
Pastor John-Paul Miller, 44, was relieved of his duties at Solid Rock at Market Common Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
His wife Mica Miller, 30, was found dead in Lumbee River State Park in North Carolina on April 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
An email seen by News13 said: ‘I, Charles Randall, by the authority vested in me as Overseer, hereby release Pastor John-Paul Miller from all ministerial duties for a time of healing, counsel and guidance, in accordance with our governing instrument .’
Weeks before her death, she shared a video talking about abuse within marriage as claims emerged that she was being harassed and “feared for her life.”
Miller was found dead in Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina, weeks after speaking out about abuse within her marriage to John-Paul Miller, the couple seen here.
Weeks before her death, she shared a video talking about abuse within marriage as claims emerged that she was being harassed and “feared for her life.”
Miller, who has a criminal record that includes multiple counts of assault and aggravated assault to which he pleaded guilty, told his congregation that his death was “self-induced.”
Miller, who has a criminal record that includes multiple counts of assault and aggravated assault to which he pleaded guilty, told his congregation that his death was “self-induced.”
“You all know that she was not well mentally and that she needed her medication and that it was difficult to get to her,” he said.
Before making the announcement, he asked his flock to stand and ordered them to “leave the church quietly and not speak about the announcement here in the building.”
‘I’m taking a little break, it could be a few days or weeks. I got a call last night, my wife passed away, yes, it was self-induced. […] “I’m just pumping adrenaline,” Miller’s husband said.
An obituary written by him also described his wife as “a great stepmother and an incredible wife and partner” and described her as his biggest cheerleader.
Miller had called authorities before taking his own life, telling them: “I’m about to kill myself and I just want my family to know where to find me.”
Officers were sent to the state park where the body was found, and authorities confirmed Monday that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said that throughout the call she remained calm and asked the operator if they could track her phone.
In the days after her death, her friends and family held a rally calling for ‘justice for Mica’ outside the Solid Rock Church where Pastor Miller, 44, works.
A shared email
Court documents indicate that she had served her husband with divorce papers just weeks before her death.
Weeks before she died, Mica posted an emotional video in which she spoke about abuse within marriage and offered support to “ANYONE who is struggling to get out of a dangerous situation because they believe God will be ‘angry’ with them.”
She said: ‘My heart is a little heavy today. I’ve had a lot of women contact me about abusive situations, and I just want to tell you what a lot of people have told me lately, because I think I forgot.
‘But you are the bride of Christ before anyone else, whether male or female, no matter what gender you are, abuse is abuse.’
On Monday, before the cause of her death was announced, ABC reported that Mica had filed police reports against a man, whose name was redacted in the reports, in March, accusing him of harassing her.
She had told officers she was “scared for her life,” had found a tracking device in her car and had had her tires repeatedly deflated.
In the days since Mica’s death on April 27, her family had rejected her husband’s explanation that it was a suicide.
Speaking to DailyMail.com last week, Mica’s sister Sierra Brown said: “The only thing I would say is that he said it was an official suicide, but that’s not the case.” There is still an open investigation.
Mica’s death occurred just 48 hours after her husband, from whom she had been separated for a month, received divorce papers.
Mica previously shared a video talking about abuse within marriage with pastor John-Paul Miller, 44 (pictured), as claims surfaced that she was allegedly being harassed.
Court records hint at tumult within the marriage: Mica first filed for divorce in October 2023 before withdrawing the request on February 12.
Later that same month, Miller filed a lawsuit against his wife for child support and separate support in a motion withdrawn on March 11.
But on April 15, just 12 days before she was found dead, Mica filed a new lawsuit and, according to her friends, also requested a no-contact order against her husband.
His friends Kenn and Allicia Young have now also insisted on NewsNation that Mica did not take her life.
Allicia Young, who is a member of Solid Rock Church along with her husband Kenn, said: “I don’t believe at all that he took his own life.”
“I don’t believe at all that he took his life because he had energy and his faith in God was unwavering,” Allicia said in banfield.
“She was always quick to encourage someone else, including me. We went to lunch together and worked out together.
In an interview with ABC15Miller reiterated that his wife had taken her own life.
“She had struggled with suicide before,” he said. ‘Each time we helped her get over it and took her to the doctor, we got through it and everything was fine.
‘He even gave some testimonies here in the church that we have on video. She struggled with suicide, but God took care of her and helped her through it.’
He added that she was “probably the best wife anyone could ask for” and described the nights they spent talking to each other for hours.