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South Carolina pastor John Paul Miller has been indicted in federal court for allegedly talking to his estranged wife, Mica Miller, 30, over the Internet more than a year before her death, authorities said.
He was found dead on April 27, 2024, at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina. His death was ruled a suicide.
A federal judge in Columbia charged John-Paul Miller, 46, of Myrtle Beach, with one count of cyberstalking and one count of making false statements to federal investigators, according to a Dec. 18 release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
A federal grand jury in Columbia returned two indictments against John-Paul Miller, 46, of Myrtle Beach, for talking about cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators. (Robeson County Sheriff’s Office)
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The lawsuit alleges that from November 2022 until Mica’s death, Miller engaged in a pattern of abuse that included sending repeated spam messages, contacting her more than 50 times in one day, interfering with her finances and daily activities, and damaging her car tires.
Prosecutors say Miller also placed tracking devices in her car and posted a nude photo of herself online without her consent.
Miller’s alleged cyberstalking caused his wife to “fear death and serious bodily injury,” according to the trial court, adding that his conduct “would reasonably be expected to cause.” [Mica Miller] severe mental stress. “
The Horry County Clerk’s Office in South Carolina confirmed to Fox News Digital that Mica Miller filed three separate requests for “support and care”. (Facebook)
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Federal authorities say Miller also lied to investigators when asked about damaging Mica’s tires. Investigators later learned that Miller purchased a tire changer online and sent text messages to others pointing to his car, according to the indictment.
Miller could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for cyberstalking and two years for making false statements, and a fine of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 12. 2026, in federal court in Florence, South Carolina. Court records did not immediately list an attorney for Miller.
Mica Miller was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina. (Facebook)
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In a statement released Thursday, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said his office began requesting the state’s involvement shortly after Mica’s death, after investigators received information that, while not directly related to the cause of death, required further review.
Deputies responded to Lumber River State Park on April 27, 2024, after Mica called 911 and expressed concern that she might harm herself, Wilkins said.
He was found dead in the water with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a gun was found nearby. The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled that the man committed suicide.
Wilkins said his office contacted the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina on May 6, 2024, requesting an investigation into the conduct that occurred outside of North Carolina. Detectives shared all evidence with the FBI and met with Miller’s family the next day to explain the findings and the referral.
“Unfortunately, during this investigation, rumors, speculation and conspiracy theories quickly spread,” Wilkins said in a statement. statement posts on his office’s Facebook page, and photos of both John-Paul and Mica Miller. “The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office made decisions based solely on the facts, evidence, and corroborated information obtained through a detailed and thorough investigation.”
Mica’s friends and family shared the post on social media with the hashtag, “JusticeforMica.” (Facebook)
The police chief said that while the federal charges do not change the official verdict in Mica’s death, they do bring attention to the seriousness of domestic abuse, including unnatural forms of abuse.
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“This case underscores the seriousness of domestic abuse and related crimes and is a reminder that such behavior has no place in our society,” Wilkins said.
Miller was the pastor at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach when his wife died. The two had separated, and Mica filed for divorce two days before she died, according to FOX 8 Greensboro.
