JP Miller meets Mica (said Micah) when she is 15 years old, she in a youth group where he worked. He was married to his first wife at the time. In 2017, when Mica was 23, she weds JP.
According to reports, Mica Miller had filed multiple times for a legal separation from John-Paul Miller. In October 2023, she filed for divorce along with a No Contact order.
February 4th - Pastor John-Paul preaches a sermon on Korah and Moses and how it’s wrong to rise against religious leaders.
February 23rd - Pastor John-Paul files for spousal support.
February 25th - In another sermon to his congregation Pastor John-Paul says a mentally ill person doesn’t know they’re sick. “You have to trust people around you. The thing that’s sick is your mind and your mind is what you need to realize that you’re sick.”
March 10th - Pastor John-Paul preaches a sermon and reveals he went through two years of messages on his wife’s phone. He found that 18 people reached out saying to her, “If you ever want to talk about your husband you can talk to me and I’ll keep it confidential.” Visibly upset, the Pastor followed up with, “That’s a demon talking…”
March 10th - Pastor John-Paul says to his congregation, “One thing I’m going to preach about is gettin’ rich, strong, healthy, and finding a hot wife that loves Jesus.” ... while wearing his wedding ring.
March 10th - Pastor John-Paul tells his congregation that his wife was in the hospital and as soon as she got out, she left him. “She gets out and she just leaves. Just completely leaves me. Leaves everything, drains the bank account and just goes. Guess what? While you’re talking bad about me out there I’m building a school in Africa for over a hundred kids to be able to be fed.”
March 11 - ABC15 requested reports from the Horry County Police Dept. that listed 30-year-old Mica Miller as the victim. HCPD sent two reports from March 11.
According to the documents, Miller reported to police that a razor blade was placed in her tire at the Springmaid Pier. She claimed this was the second time a razor had deflated her tire within that week. The report said that as Miller was leaving the pier, she heard a pop and noticed metal protruding from her tire. The responding officer said the metal was a tire deflation device that could be bought online.
Miller believed a suspect, whose name is redacted in the report, may have placed or had the item placed on the tire. The report stated that Miller noticed "strange activity" and believed people were following or watching her. Miller told police that the unidentified suspect had a history of similar actions against her, according to the report. Police stated that the evidence was not sufficient enough to prove that the suspect placed the razor device under the tire.
Later that same morning, another officer responded to the East Coast Honda dealership. The officer spoke with Miller, who advised that after another officer helped change her tire, she went to the gas station and then straight to the Honda dealership to get her tire fixed.
Miller said that while at the gas station, the suspect in the incident pulled up next to her pump trying to talk to her. She told him to go away and that she did not want to talk, per the report. When she pulled out her phone to record, the suspect reportedly sped off. Miller then left the gas station to go back to East Coast Honda, where the suspect also showed up, according to the police report.
While an officer was standing with Miller, she received a no-caller ID call, which ended up being the suspect, the officer noted in the report. The suspect was advised that the victim does not want any further contact and if he proceeds then warrants may be written up. The suspect acknowledged the advisory, police said.
The victim told the officer she "was afraid for her life." She also said that she blocked the suspect's number and would still get calls and texts from him on other numbers.
After the officer left, Miller contacted him to say the mechanics found a tracking device on her vehicle.
About an hour later, Miller also notified the officer that she was at the Magistrate's office to get a restraining order. The officer requested to meet her to get the GPS device, to which Miller agreed.
While out front of the Magistrate's office with Miller, the officer saw a white Honda Accord slowly drive by and Miller said it was the suspect in her car driving by. The vehicle then sped up and drove away, the report concluded.
March 12th - Pastor John-Pauls request for spousal support was dismissed.
March 17th - Pastor John-Paul tells a story of a Pastor whose wife left him for a member of his staff. The pastor had to hire a third party company to find her. Once he found her, divorce papers were drawn up. When the time came to sign the papers, the Pastor couldn’t do it because, “Bible says divorce is wrong…” and if she wanted out she would have to leave him.
March 17th - In a Facebook post made by Mica’s sister, Sierra Francis, says she keeps an eye on her phone, “…for fear of my sisters safety due to others behaviors towards her.” She goes on to mention the sermon from March 17th and calls out the congregation of Solid Rock Church.
Her sister claimed in a document filed in probate court that Mica confided to her that JP had been moving assets out of his name and into other's, including his vehicle and the home deed. She also claims Mica told her of domestic violence against her.
March 18th - Mica posts a video encouraging others. She says, “I’m just making sure my heart doesn’t have any unforgivness, bitterness, resentment… Just forgiveness and hope for the future… and peace.” Her sister stated that Mica was preparing for a life without JP, already shipping some of her personal items to Kenya for a mission trip.
March 22nd - Mica posts another video suggesting she was being abused physically and mentally. She also says, “God hates divorce. But how does God feel about abuse?” She also suggests her husband forced her to take illegal drugs.
April 16th - Mica files for spousal support.
April 23rd - A hearing notice was sent out for Mica’s request. A court date for June 5th was set.
April 27th - Mica Miller, 30, was found dead with an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound to at Lumber State Park in Lumberton, North Carolina, according to the police report.
On Saturday, April 27, just before 3 p.m., Robeson County E911 received a distressing call from an individual seeking assistance in locating her phone. She expressed her intention to end her life and desired for her family to be able to locate her remains.
The call was abruptly disconnected before the dispatcher could gather further information, and subsequent attempts to re-establish contact were unsuccessful. Utilizing the available technology, the dispatcher pinpointed the origin of the call to Lumber River State Park in Orrum and promptly dispatched law enforcement to the site.
A comprehensive search was initiated by deputies and state park rangers. The efforts were augmented by deploying the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office drone to assist in locating the individual.
During their search, deputies located a black Honda Accord with South Carolina license plates registered in Miller’s name.
Upon inspection, authorities discovered a gun case positioned on the passenger seat and a box of ammunition within the center console. Additionally, two receipts were found inside the vehicle: one from a pawn shop for the gun and another from a convenience store, both dated the same day.
In the midst of the investigation, a man approached the deputies with a bag he had found by the water’s edge, which contained identification belonging to Miller. He reported hearing distressed crying and a gunshot while fishing nearby.
Subsequently, E911 was alerted by a park visitor who reported discovering a body in the water. Deputies swiftly converged on the reported location and found the body. The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office was summoned to the scene, and the deceased was confirmed to be Miller.
In the course of their investigation, deputies made a significant discovery in the water—a handgun. The serial number on the weapon corresponded with the one on the gun case found in the vehicle registered to Miller.
Further examination of Miller’s phone uncovered a recent Google search for “national parks near me,” which had listed Lumber River State Park as a result.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office extended his deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mica Miller, stating, “On behalf of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, we extend our heartfelt condolences. The widespread impact of this tragedy has been felt throughout the Carolinas and beyond. I can assure the public that our Criminal Investigations Team and Crime Scene Investigative Team have conducted a thorough and systematic investigation.”
April 28th - Pastor John-Paul announces to his congregation at the end of service, that his wife was dead and it was, “self induced.” He also reminds the congregation of her mental illness. The pastor asked the congregation not to discuss her death inside the church — Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. “Y’all pray for me and my kids and everybody. You all knew she wasn’t well mentally and she needed medicine that was hard to get to her. I’m sure there will be more details to come, but keep her family in your prayers,” he said.
Miller's husband, John-Paul Miller, the pastor at Solid Rock Church in Market Common, told ABC15 in an interview last week that Mica's death was a suicide, though law enforcement has not released a cause of death.
April 28th - Mica’s sister, Sierra Francis, posts on Facebook saying, “Don’t listen to the false stories being told about her [Mica].”
A friend of the 30-year-old said she spoke to Mica Miller multiple times the week she died, and her final text to her on Friday night was not a woman about to die but a woman making plans to live.
May 2nd - In an interview with ABC 15, Pastor John-Paul Miller says, “She was probably the greatest wife anyone could ask for.” He also, once again, points out her mental illness.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office has officially opened an investigation into the shooting death of Mica Miller.
“Officers are in the process of gathering information from people in South and North Carolina as part of their investigation into how Miller died,” Major Damien McLean told the New York Post.
On May 5th, two services were held for Mica, one by her husband and one by friends. Outside the church service her husband held were protesters wearing domestic violence awareness shirts clad in purple chanted "Justice for Mica" outside the church walls.
Sierra, Mica's sister, says in a court document that Mica told her, "If I end up with a bullet in my head, it wasn't me. It was JP."
JP was released from his duties amid an ongoing investigation into the death of his wife, 30-year-old Mica Miller. The overseer of Solid Rock Church in Market Common sent a notice to its members on Sunday that Pastor John-Paul Miller was released from all ministerial functions. The notice states that Miller is released "for a time of healing, counsel, and guidance, pursuant to our governing instrument."
The Solid Rock Church's website was also suspended over the weekend. The website link now redirects to a webpage reading "This account has been suspended."
The investigative team diligently pursued leads to ascertain the location of John Paul Miller and an individual he was reportedly associated with. Robeson County officials verified that John Paul Miller attended an athletic event in Charleston on the day his estranged wife passed away. Surveillance footage placed his vehicle on Highway 17 Bypass at precisely 2:22 p.m. on the day in question, with an additional passenger present.
Addressing the public speculation, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins stated, “Unfortunately, rumors and conspiracy theories were spreading quickly, and assumptions were being made. However, in the end, we must make decisions based on the facts, and evidence that has been gathered. While I know it’s not what many people wanted to hear, the evidence is quite clear and compelling, and we are as saddened as anyone that this occurred,” Wilkins said. “There are many factors that we have reviewed that occurred over an extended period of time that are probably related to the reason for this investigation, but in the end, sadly, a tragic decision was made by Mica that ended her life.”
Investigators conducted several interviews and developed a timeline of events in relation to Miller’s death on Saturday, April 27, 2024:
11 a.m. - Miller was observed on her ring camera arriving at her residence on Margarita Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC.
11:38 a.m. - Miller was observed on her ring camera leaving her residence.
12:12 p.m. - Miller is observed on store surveillance walking into Dick’s Pawn Shop which is located at 1852 Mr. Joe White Ave. Myrtle Beach, SC.
12:13 p.m. - Miller is observed at the register and initiates the purchase of a weapon.
12:34 p.m. - Miller is observed leaving Dick’s Pawn shop after purchasing a weapon and ammunition.
1:06 p.m. - Miller’s black Honda Accord is observed traveling on Hwy 501 near Four Mile Rd., Conway, South Carolina.
1:27 p.m. - Miller’s black Honda Accord is observed arriving at 41 Grocery and Grill which is located at 41 SC-41, Mullins SC.
1:35 p.m. - Miller is observed leaving the store after purchasing a drink and gas.
2:54 p.m. - Miller called Robeson County from Lumber River State Park. The Lumber River State Park is 32.7 miles (41 minutes) from 41 Grocery and Grill in Mullins via SC-9 North.
Mica Miller's recent searches in her phone.(Source: Robeson County Sheriff's Office)
Mica Miller’s husband admits he posted a topless pic of Mica online before her death
A couple of days after John-Paul sent an “apology” email, Mica sent an affidavit to her attorney. It was roughly nine days before she died:
“Since the day we became husband and wife, I have been abused in every way I can think of. Emotionally, sexually, spiritually, financially, and physically. He has harassed me physically and electronically with letters, phone calls, emails, and texts, hacking my emails, hacking my personal Facebook, and impersonating me. Using my stolen phone to send texts and emails out to church members pretending to be me, texting friends and family saying that I am sleeping with teenagers from our church, and showing up in person at places around town … To having installed 3 different tracking devices on my vehicle.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
This story originally ran May 5th, 2024. It has been updated with new information.