In 2024, Mica Miller was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park. While her death was officially ruled a suicide, the case gained widespread attention and scrutiny due to the unsettling and potentially criminal behavior of her estranged husband, megachurch pastor John-Paul Miller.
A new Netflix documentary series, Death of a Pastor’s Wife, revisits the mysterious circumstances surrounding the 30-year-old’s death and explores her tumultuous marriage to John-Paul, who is now facing federal charges for his actions leading up to her suicide.
Here’s what we know about Mica Miller’s life and tragic death.
Who Was Mica Miller?
Mica Acacia Miller was born on March 7, 1994, in Wichita, Kansas, to Michael Francis and Angelita Ramirez. She later moved with her parents and five siblings to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where she attended Socastee High School.
A women’s ministry leader and pastor’s assistant, Mica was heavily involved in Solid Rock Church where her husband was the head pastor. She met John-Paul, who was 14 years her senior, when she was just a child and later began working as a nanny and babysitter for his children while he was still married to his first wife, Alison Williams.
Mica and John-Paul began an affair in 2015, and he soon divorced Alison. She and John-Paul married just two years later in November 2017, making Mica a stepmother to his five children: Logan, Zachary, Eli, Asher, and Selah.
How Did Mica Miller Die?
On April 27, 2024, Mica died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina. Her body was found submerged in the river, with shell casings scattered along the riverbank.
The 30-year-old purchased a gun at a pawn shop and drove herself to the state park, where she made a distress call to 911 indicating she intended to take her own life. “I’m about to kill myself and I just want my family to know where to find me,” Mica said, asking the dispatcher to trace her phone.
Medical records indicate she had a history of bipolar disorder and dependent personality disorder. She was hospitalized twice before her death due to suicidal ideation. Mica’s death was ultimately ruled a suicide by the Robeson Country Sheriff’s Office. However, evidence later surfaced that she had reported being stalked and harassed by her own husband, with family members claiming she was afraid for her life.
Did Mica Miller’s Husband, John-Paul Miller, Place Her on an Involuntary Psychiatric Hold?
After just five years together, Mica filed for divorce from John-Paul in October 2023, citing alleged adultery and growing hostility. The following February, the filing was dismissed and Mica was involuntarily hospitalized at a mental health facility for 48 hours. After being discharged, she discovered her car and personal belongings were missing. She later told Myrtle Beach police that she believed her husband had fraudulently initiated having her committed in order to take her vehicle away. In the same complaint, Mica also alleged that John-Paul had “groomed” her for years before they were married.
According to court documents, John-Paul had power of attorney over her medical care and told officers she had annual mental health episodes, during which she would allegedly spend large amounts of money. He acknowledged to police that he had taken possession of Mica’s car, but said it was “marital property” and refused to give it back to her for a month—the amount of time he claimed her “episodes” would last.
An affidavit from Mica’s father, Michael Francis, however, alleges John-Paul exaggerated her mental health issues and lied about her not taking her medication.
Why Was John-Paul Miller Arrested?
Shortly before her death, Mica reported multiple incidents of stalking and harassment by John-Paul. On March 11, 2024, she filed a restraining order request against her estranged husband, reporting she found a tracking device on her car, discovered razor blades in her tires, and was followed and harassed by an unnamed man in public.
Mica also said she received multiple texts from John-Paul commenting on and tracking her activities. Overall, she reached out to law enforcement for help at least 14 times, but her restraining order motion was ultimately denied. Mica filed for separation again on April 15, 2024—nearly two weeks before she drove to Lumber River State Park and died by suicide.
Following her tragic and untimely death, John-Paul admitted to hiring a private investigator to track her, though he claimed it was to prevent her from buying a gun. But a federal investigation found evidence he did more than just keep tabs on his wife.
More than a year later, John-Paul was charged with cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators in December 2025. He pleaded not guilty to both counts. Prosecutors allege that John-Paul sent Mica harassing texts, interfered with her daily activities and finances, and posted a nude photo of her online without her consent. They also allege he damaged her tires and subsequently lied about it when questioned by the FBI.
Where Is John-Paul Miller Now?
John-Paul Miller, now 47, is currently out on bond in South Carolina and awaiting trial, which is now set for October 2026. He has since been released of his duties at Solid Rock Church. And, he remarried just over a year after Mica’s death, wedding his third wife, Suzie Skinner, in September 2025.
How to Watch Death of a Pastor’s Wife
Death of a Pastor’s Wife explores Mica’s life and marriage, delving into the mysterious circumstances around her death.
“What stayed with us about Mica’s story was how hard she seemed to be fighting to be heard,” directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Mike Gasparro told Netflix’s Tudum. “We felt it was important to look closely at what she was experiencing and give the people who loved her the space to tell the story of the woman they knew.”
The three-part documentary series is now streaming on Netflix.
Catherine Caruso joined the Biography.com staff in August 2024, having previously worked as a freelance journalist for several years. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, where she studied English literature. When she’s not working on a new story, you can find her reading, hitting the gym, or watching too much TV.
