Mica Miller pastor husband John-Paul booted from Myrtle Beach church just days after casually revealing his wife ‘suicide’ to shocked congregation – as doubt swirls over her cause of death

A pastor whose wife took her own life for weeks after speaking out about alleged abuse in their marriage has been stripped 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 April 27 at Lumbee River State Park in North Carolina of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

An email seen by News13 said, “I, Charles Randall, by virtue of the authority vested in me as overseer, hereby release Pastor John-Paul Miller from all positions of office for a time of healing, counsel, and guidance, in accordance with our instrument of governance.”

Weeks before her death, she shared a video in which she spoke about spousal abuse after claims emerged that she was being harassed and was “afraid for her life.”

Miller, who has a criminal record that includes multiple charges of aggravated assault and battery to which he pleaded guilty, told his congregation that her death was “self-inflicted.”

“You all know she wasn’t doing well mentally and she needed her medication and it was hard to get to her,” he said.

Before making the announcement, he asked his flock to stand and instructed them to “leave the church quietly and not talk 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 died, yes, it was self-inflicted […] I just go on adrenaline,” Miller’s husband said.

An obituary he wrote also described his wife as “a wonderful stepmother, a wonderful wife and helpful companion” and portrayed her as his biggest cheerleader.

Miller had called authorities before she killed herself, telling them, “I’m about to commit suicide and I just want my family to know where to find me.”

Officers were dispatched to the state park where the body was found. Authorities confirmed Monday that she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police said she remained calm throughout the conversation and dispatch asked if her phone could be tracked.

In the days after her death, her friends and family held a rally calling for “justice for Mica” outside Solid Rock Church where Pastor Miller, 44, works.

Weeks before she died, Mica posted an emotional video in which she spoke about spousal abuse and offered support for “ANYONE struggling with leaving a dangerous situation because they think God will be ‘angry’ with them.”

She said, “Today my heart is a little heavy. 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 been telling me lately because I think I’ve forgotten.

“But you are Christ’s bride before anyone else’s, male or female, it doesn’t matter what gender you are, abuse is abuse.”

On Monday, before her cause of death was announced, ABC reported that Mica 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 “afraid for her life,” had found a tracking device on her car and had repeatedly deflated her tires.

In the days since Mica’s death on April 27, her family had resisted her husband’s explanation that it was suicide.

Speaking to DailyMail.com last week, Mica’s sister Sierra Brown said: ‘All I will say is he said it was an official suicide but that’s not the case. An investigation is still ongoing.’

Mica’s death came just 48 hours after her husband, from whom she had been separated for a month, was served with divorce papers.

Court records highlight the marital turmoil with Mica first filing for divorce in October 2023 before withdrawing the filing on February 12.

Later that same month, Miller filed a motion against his wife for separate support and maintenance in a motion that was withdrawn on March 11.

But on April 15, just twelve days before she was found dead, Mica filed again and, according to friends, also for a restraining order against her husband.

Her friends Kenn and Allicia Young have now also insisted NewsNation that Mica didn’t commit suicide.

Allicia Young, who along with her husband Kenn is a member of Solid Rock Church, said, “I absolutely do not believe she committed suicide.”

“I absolutely do not believe she committed suicide because she was energetic and her faith in God was steadfast,” Allicia said. Banfield.

“She was always quick to encourage anyone else, including myself. We had lunch together, we trained together.”

In an interview with ABC15Miller repeated that his wife had committed suicide.

“She had struggled with suicide before,” he said. “Every time we helped her through it and took her to the doctor, and we got through it and everything was fine.

“She even gave some testimonies here at church that we have on video. She fought suicide, but God took care of her and helped her through it.”

He added that she was “probably the best woman anyone could ask for” and described nights spent talking for hours.