Image Source: People.com
Content warning: This story discusses suicide and allegations of abuse.
The pastors wife case is back in the spotlight following the release of a Netflix true crime documentary examining the death of Mica Miller and her troubled relationship with South Carolina pastor John Paul “J.P.” Miller.
Death of the Pastor’s Wife, a three-part series, began streaming Aug. 26, 2026. The documentary features interviews with Mica Miller’s family members, friends and former church associates. John Paul Miller was not interviewed and declined to comment to the filmmakers. He has denied involvement in his wife’s death and denied reports that he abused her.
The pastors wife case takes a dramatic turn
Mica Miller, 30, was found dead on April 27, 2024, at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina, about 70 miles from her home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Investigators with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office determined that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and ruled her death a suicide.
According to information presented in the documentary, Miller bought a gun at a Myrtle Beach pawn shop before driving to the state park. A 911 recording played in the series captures her asking whether authorities could trace her phone. She then told the dispatcher that she was about to kill herself and wanted her family to know where to find her.
Authorities later confirmed that John Paul Miller was not in North Carolina when Mica died. He said he was attending a soccer tournament in Charleston, South Carolina. The pastor has not been charged in connection with her death.
Inside Mica Miller’s marriage and allegations
The documentary explores how Mica’s family began attending Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach when she was a teenager. John Paul Miller was already the church’s pastor. He officiated Mica’s first wedding in 2012, but the two later began an affair, according to relatives and a former pastor interviewed in the series.
After divorcing their spouses, Mica and John Paul Miller married on Nov. 17, 2017. Mica was 23 and Miller was 38. Her siblings and friends allege that the relationship later became controlling.
Those interviewed describe claims involving threats, monitoring, financial interference and intimate images. Friends also said Mica feared that private photographs and videos could be shared publicly. Her family has alleged that she repeatedly expressed concern for her safety and was gathering evidence for separation proceedings.
John Paul Miller disputed those allegations in a 2024 statement issued through his attorney. He said Mica struggled with bipolar disorder and that untreated symptoms contributed to paranoid episodes and self-destructive behavior. The allegations remain contested.
Federal charges against John Paul Miller
Although Miller has not been charged over Mica’s death, a federal grand jury indicted him in December 2025 on charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to investigators.
Federal prosecutors allege that Miller sent unwanted and harassing communications to Mica beginning in November 2022. The indictment also includes allegations that he posted an intimate image without her consent, arranged for tracking devices to be placed on her vehicle, interfered with her finances and damaged her tires.
Investigators further alleged that Miller lied when questioned about some of those actions. He pleaded not guilty in January 2026 and has denied the accusations.
- The cyberstalking charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
- The false-statements charge carries a maximum sentence of two years.
- Each charge may also carry a fine of up to $250,000.
- The trial was moved from the September 2026 court term to October 2026.
Where is John Paul Miller now?
Miller is currently out on a $100,000 unsecured bond. Court orders require him to surrender his passport and wear an ankle monitor while the federal case proceeds, according to reporting from The Post and Courier.
Less than a year after Mica’s death, Miller married Suzie Skinner on June 1, 2025, according to the Netflix documentary. Skinner is a member of Salt Rock Church.
Solid Rock Church and its attached school closed in November 2024 after protests and growing public scrutiny. A new church later purchased the building. A former member told the documentary’s producers that Miller and a smaller group of followers continued meeting at various locations around Myrtle Beach.
The case has drawn intense attention from true crime viewers, online investigators and Mica’s family. However, the official ruling on her death remains suicide, while the federal allegations against Miller have yet to be resolved in court.
Frequently asked questions
What is Death of the Pastor’s Wife about?
The Netflix documentary examines Mica Miller’s death, her marriage to pastor John Paul Miller and allegations made by her family and friends.
How did Mica Miller die?
Mica Miller was found dead at Lumber River State Park on April 27, 2024. Investigators ruled her death a suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Was John Paul Miller charged in Mica Miller’s death?
No. He has not been charged in connection with her death. He faces separate federal charges involving alleged cyberstalking and false statements.
What is John Paul Miller’s current legal status?
He pleaded not guilty, remains out on a $100,000 unsecured bond and is awaiting a federal trial scheduled for the October 2026 court term.
