John-Paul Miller heard charges related to wife’s death. What FBI found in his home
Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller appeared in federal court Monday to face new charges related to the death of his wife, Mica Miller.
Advocates for Mica packed the courtroom wearing purple at the McMillan Federal Courthouse in Florence and gathering for a prayer before federal agents and prosecutors began filing into the room.
Miller pleaded not guilty to federal charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to investigators. He now has a $100,000 bond and will be subjected to location monitoring via an ankle monitor. He will also have to submit to drug tests and will be unable to leave the state.
The prosecution informed the judge that FBI investigators had found large sums of cash and silver bars and coins in a safe at John-Paul’s home, leading them to believe he was a flight risk. They also stated that John-Paul had repeatedly threatened Mica’s family and witnesses who complied with law enforcement in the case.
John-Paul Miller sat, leaning far back in his chair, and whispered frequently to his attorneys as the prosecution spoke. Mica’s family was not in attendance.
These federal charges come more than a year after the death of Mica Miller, who took her life in a North Carolina state park in April 2024. John-Paul Miller came under scrutiny for his possible involvement in her death when he announced her passing from the pulpit of Solid Rock, his church at the time.
In late 2025, a two-count federal indictment was brought against John-Paul Miller for cyberstalking and making false statements to FBI investigators, lending credence to some of the suspicions that swirled around the case.
The new indictment claims that Miller harassed Mica beginning in November 2022 up until the date of her death. The harassment allegedly included calling her more than 50 times in one day and posting a nude photo of her online without consent. It also claims that he interfered with his wife’s finances, and even the tires of her vehicle.
Miller was previously interviewed about these instances, but lied about all of them, according to the FBI indictment. Though he claimed he had not interfered with Mica’s tires, he had purchased a tire deflation device. He also claimed he hired a private investigator to prevent Mica from purchasing firearms, but the investigator reportedly cyberstalked Mica over alleged adultery.
John-Paul Miller exited the back entrance of the courthouse after the hearing was over.
John-Paul’s next court appearance will likely be in March, according to federal prosecutors, as he waived his right to a trial within 70 days.
Advocates, attorneys react to John-Paul Miller’s arraignment
Regina Ward, the attorney that has been representing Mica Miller’s family, exited the courthouse after John-Paul Miller’s arraignment with a grin and an exclamation of “yes!”
“I’m very emotional about it, I’m very happy,” she said, adding that she was on the edge of her seat hoping to hear that John-Paul would have to wear an ankle monitor.
She also noted that she was “not at all” surprised by John-Paul’s not guilty plea.
“Not for one thing has he ever admitted responsibility,” she said. However, she added that she has “no doubt” Mica’s family is supportive of the outcome of the arraignment, despite not being present in court.
The federal prosecutorial team explained that they remain limited in what they can share publicly outside the courtroom, but noted that the investigation into John-Paul Miller is ongoing.
Similarly, John-Paul’s attorneys said they look forward to answering questions about the case in the courtroom and continuing to defend their client.
Justice for Mica advocates cheered outside the courthouse, hoisting signs with photos of Mica. Before departing, they gathered in the parking lot to release a bundle of purple balloons into the sky in Mica’s honor.
How John-Paul Miller ended up in a federal courtroom
John-Paul Miller initially denied wrongdoing in his wife’s death, blaming her mental health. However, protestors, law enforcement and Mica Miller’s family members had long suspected there was more to the case.
Before his wife’s suicide, John-Paul Miller was known primarily as the pastor at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach’s Market Common. But when Mica Miler’s body was discovered, aspects of their relationship came under national scrutiny, being picked apart for clues that something sinister lurked beneath the surface.
Mica Miller’s sister, Sierra Francis, previously told The Sun News she believed her sister had been groomed by John-Paul since she was a younger member of the church. The couple’s romantic relationship began in 2015 as an affair, when Mica was 20, and they were both married to other people. They later divorced their spouses to be with each other, marrying in 2017.
But court filings show that their marriage was not all smooth sailing. Mica filed for divorce in October 2023, but later dismissed it. In February 2024, John-Paul filed for separation, but also dismissed it. Mica filed for separation once more in April 2024, serving the papers two days before her death, according to family court records.
Records also show that at the time of John-Paul’s separation filing in 2024, the couple had been living apart since early February.
Suspicions brewed about relationship between John-Paul and Mica Miller
Mica’s family were not the only ones suspicious of John-Paul after Mica’s death, which became a national conversation topic. Protestors took to online platforms, using #JusticeForMica as a rallying cry.
The Robeson County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office also suspected there might be more to Mica’s death, requesting in May 2024 that federal authorities aid in the investigation.
Deputies with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office were the ones who responded to Lumber River State Park near Orrum, North Carolina, to conduct a welfare check on Mica after she called 911 to say she was planning to take her life. She was found dead in the water with a gunshot wound that appeared self-inflicted, and the firearm nearby.
Earlier that day, Mica could be seen on surveillance footage released by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office entering Dick’s Pawn Shop in Myrtle Beach and leaving after buying a firearm and ammunition, The Sun News previously reported. It remains unknown why she traveled more than 65 miles to the North Carolina state park to take her life.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office did not share exactly what information led them to believe the case warranted further review.
However, police reports show on March 11, Mica’s tires were slashed when she was at the Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach around 1:30 a.m. She reported this to Horry County Police, The Sun News previously reported.
Mica had also called the police several times to report harassment before her death, telling them she feared for her life. A mechanic also found a GPS tracker on her car, The Sun News previously reported.
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 3:38 PM.
