The pastor’s wife, Mica Miller, died from a “self-inflicted gunshot wound” days after filing for divorce from her husband John-Paul Miller.
Mica, 30, was found dead in Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina, on April 27, weeks after she shared a video talking about marital abuse while her family claimed her husband had harassed her and that she “feared for her life.”
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.
The pastor surprised his parishioners last week. when, after a service in which there was He laughed and seemed completely calm.announced that his wife had died and that her death was “self-induced.”
On Monday, Robeson County Coroner Dr. Richard Johnson he told ABC: ‘Based on the nature of the wound, it is consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. And it was not in the back of the head, as has been speculated.
Miller, 30, was found dead in Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina, on April 27.
Weeks earlier, she shared a video talking about abuse within the marriage and her family claimed that her husband (pictured) had harassed her and that she “feared for her life.”
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.’
After her death, Pastor Miller of Myrtle Beach surprised his Solid Rock congregation at Market Common Church in South Carolina when he announced that his wife had died and that her death had been “self-induced.”
He then told worshipers that he would take “a little break” and leave the church without discussing what he had just told them.
In the days since Mica’s death on April 27, her family had rejected her husband’s explanation that it was a suicide.
Mica Miller offered her support to victims of abuse and reminded them that they “don’t have to stay” in an emotional Facebook video shared on March 22.
Miller urged her friends and followers to share her message with anyone struggling to reconcile their faith with their abusive relationships.
DailyMail.com has learned that Mica’s untimely death on April 27 came just 48 hours after she served divorce papers on her husband, Pastor John-Paul Miller.
Speaking to DailyMail.com last week, Mica’s sister Sierra Brown, 28, said the family would not make any statements until the investigation was completed, but said: “The only thing I would say is that he said that “He was an official.” suicide, that is not the case. There is still an open investigation.
Mica was found with a fatal gunshot wound in Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina, in a death that is being investigated by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Department.
Mica’s death occurred just 48 hours after her husband, from whom she had been separated for a month, received divorce papers.
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.
Speaking on March 22, Mica said: ‘You don’t have to stay in an abusive relationship. Whether it’s sexual, whether it’s someone forcing you to take illegal drugs or abuse alcohol, or physical abuse, psychological abuse, making you think that this is all your fault or that you’re a bad mother or a bad husband or you’re not. giving it your all when you know you are.
John-Paul Miller shocked his congregation when he announced his death as a suicide at the end of a service at Solid Rock at Market Common Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, last Sunday.
Mica was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound on April 27 in Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina.
‘God hates divorce, but why? According to everyone I’ve asked and scriptures I’ve read, it’s because he hurts people. But does abuse hurt people? How do you think God feels about this?
Mica met Miller, 14 years her senior, when she was just 14 and a member of her church’s youth group.
Addressing his congregation, Miller claimed that Mica, the stepmother of his five children, “was mentally ill.”
But her friends have taken to social media to refute this claim with a post on X: ‘Mica is a close friend of mine, she 100% would not have committed suicide. She was excited to start a new life without being afraid of it and she was finally about to get out of it.
In Mica’s obituary written by Miller, who has a criminal record that includes multiple counts of aggravated assault and battery to which he pleaded guilty, he makes no mention of the fact that the couple had separated.
Instead, he described her as a “great stepmother and an amazing wife and partner,” and described her as his biggest cheerleader.
Kenn Young, Mica’s friend, is among those seeking answers about what happened.
‘At least this must be analyzed in depth. There has to be some responsibility here,” he said. WPDE. “Because yes, a tragic life was lost and it’s not as simple as mental health issues.”
Miller’s sisters have also alluded to questions about his death, posting with the caption ‘#JusticeforMica.’
‘There is already a lot of talk, so I want to make things clear. Our sister Mica Miller passed away yesterday,” wrote Miller’s sister, Sierra Francis.
‘Please don’t listen to the false stories being shared about her. Mica was a loving, joyful and God-fearing woman.
Mica’s sister Sierra, seen above in a Facebook video, told DailyMail.com that the family will not be making public comments until the investigation is complete, but confirmed that the official cause of her death has not yet been determined.
But a lack of information from police has led many, including the Millers sisters (pictured), to question what happened.
‘We know that many of you feel this heartbreaking loss with us. The fight is not over.’
Mica is originally from Wichita, Kansas and is one of five children, according to her obituary.
Court documents indicate that she had served her husband with divorce papers just weeks before her death.
The pastor’s obituary describes her as “energetic, affirmative, adventurous, faithful, loving, generous, forgiving, talented, cheerful, creative, assertive, bold, determined, authoritative, passionate, hard-working, willing to take risks and much more.”
In an interview with ABC15Mica’s husband reiterated that his wife had taken her 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.
