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The April 2024 death of Mica Miller, a 30-year-old pastor’s wife found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a North Carolina state park, has drawn national attention and is now the subject of the Netflix documentary “Death of the Pastor’s Wife.”
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Her estranged husband, Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller, faces federal charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to investigators tied to her death.
If you’re planning to watch or are watching the documentary, here’s what you need to know about the case.
Details of Mica Miller’s death
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina ruled Mica Miller’s death on April 27, 2024, a suicide, releasing surveillance footage of her buying a 9mm handgun at Dick’s Pawn Shop in Myrtle Beach and a 911 call in which she told a dispatcher she wanted her family to find her body. Read original story here.
The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office concluded Mica Miller died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at Lumber River State Park and found “no concern for foul play.” Read original story here.
However, Mica’s family and friends have raised questions about her death, including her estranged husband’s involvement, which he has denied.
What John-Paul Miller said about his wife’s death
Miller announced his wife’s death to the Solid Rock Church congregation, where Miller was pastor, during an April 28, 2024, sermon, calling it self-induced a day after she was found in the state park. Read original story here.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun News at Solid Rock Church, Miller denied ever abusing his wife and said he hired a private investigator in March 2024 to track her car because of prior suicidal episodes. Read original story here.
Court documents include an affidavit from Mica’s sister Sierra Francis stating Mica told others, “if I end up with a bullet in my head, it was not by me, it was JP,” and show Mica filed for separation on April 15, 2024, just days before her death. Read original story here.
FBI becomes involved in case
Miller and Mica’s family reached a settlement in July 2024 at the Horry County Court House ending all litigation over her estate, with Mica’s sister Sierra Francis withdrawing her petition to control the estate. Read original story here.
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FBI agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at John-Paul Miller’s Azalea Lakes Boulevard home on Nov. 1, 2024, as crowds of “Justice for Mica” protesters gathered outside to watch. Read original story here.
Seven months after his wife’s death, John-Paul Miller returned to the pulpit in early 2025 with a new congregation called Mercy Church, after closing Solid Rock Church, filed more than 20 court actions against Justice for Mica protesters and was arrested for third-degree assault in November. Read original story here.
What about the case of Christopher Skinner?
Myrtle Beach Police closed the case of Christopher Skinner, a paralyzed man who drowned in a neighborhood pool in 2021, though his sister Tamra McDermott says new evidence tied to John-Paul Miller warrants continued investigation and the Horry County Coroner’s Office says its case remains open. Read original story here.
The 40-year-old Skinner and his wife, Suzie, attended Solid Rock Church, which John-Paul Miller pastored. It wasn’t until after Mica Miller’s passing that questions were raised about the relationship between Miller and Skinner’s widow.
Miller and Suzie Skinner married in 2025.
What charges does John-Paul Miller face?
A federal grand jury indicted John-Paul Miller in December 2025 on charges of cyberstalking and making false statements, with the FBI alleging he harassed Mica from November 2022 until her death, including calling her more than 50 times in one day and posting a nude photo of her online without consent. Read original story here.
At his Jan. 12, 2026, arraignment in federal court in Florence, John-Paul Miller pleaded not guilty, received a $100,000 bond and was ordered to wear an ankle monitor after prosecutors said FBI investigators found large sums of cash and silver bars and coins in his home. Read original story here.
Netflix released “Death of the Pastor’s Wife” on Aug. 26, reigniting public interest in the case as John-Paul Miller’s pretrial court appearance was repeatedly postponed and is now scheduled for October with no definitive date set. Read original story here.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
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