The phrase “death of the pastor’s wife” refers to the 2024 death of Mica Miller, the estranged wife of South Carolina pastor John-Paul “JP” Miller. Mica, 30, was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina on April 27, 2024; authorities ruled her death a suicide after investigating the circumstances.
The case has returned to public attention because Netflix released the three-part documentary Death of the Pastor’s Wife on August 26, 2026. Separately, JP Miller was federally indicted in December 2025 on charges of cyberstalking Mica before her death and making false statements to investigators. He has pleaded not guilty, and he has not been charged with causing Mica’s death.
Introduction
The death of the pastor’s wife is once again attracting widespread attention following Netflix’s release of Death of the Pastor’s Wife, a three-part documentary examining the life and death of Mica Miller, her troubled marriage to pastor John-Paul Miller and the questions that followed her death.
Mica Miller was 30 when she died on April 27, 2024, at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the circumstances and ultimately determined that she died by suicide. Authorities said the conclusion was supported by evidence including surveillance footage, interviews and physical evidence.
The case nevertheless remained controversial because Mica had been separated from her husband and had reportedly expressed fears about harassment and her safety. In December 2025, a federal grand jury indicted John-Paul Miller on charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators. Those charges concern alleged conduct before Mica’s death; they do not charge Miller with killing her.
Netflix’s documentary, released on August 26, 2026, has brought the case back into the spotlight while Miller’s federal criminal case continues.
What Happened to Mica Miller?
Mica Miller was married to John-Paul Miller, who was pastor of Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
By 2024, the couple’s marriage had broken down and they were in the process of divorcing.
According to reporting based on the law-enforcement timeline, Mica served John-Paul with divorce papers on April 25, 2024, two days before her death.
On April 27, Mica traveled from South Carolina to Lumber River State Park in North Carolina.
Authorities said she contacted emergency services from the park and indicated that she intended to take her own life. Deputies subsequently located her body.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office later announced that the death was a suicide.
The official finding became a major point of discussion because people close to Mica had previously expressed concerns about her safety.
What Did Authorities Determine About Mica Miller’s Death?
Authorities ultimately determined that Mica’s death was a suicide.
The conclusion was not based on a single piece of evidence.
Investigators examined a number of circumstances surrounding her final day, including surveillance footage, witness information, physical evidence and the medical examiner’s findings.
According to reporting on the sheriff’s investigation, surveillance footage showed Mica purchasing a firearm before traveling toward Lumber River State Park. Investigators also reviewed her emergency call and other evidence from the day.
The sheriff’s conclusion did not end public discussion about the case.
Family members, friends and supporters continued to raise questions about Mica’s relationship with John-Paul and about allegations that she had experienced harassment before her death.
Those questions are part of the story explored by Netflix’s documentary, but they should not be confused with the official determination of the manner of death.
Key Details About the Case
Several facts help explain why the story continues to attract attention:
- Mica Miller was 30 years old when she died.
- She was the estranged wife of South Carolina pastor John-Paul “JP” Miller.
- The couple was in the process of divorcing.
- Mica died on April 27, 2024, at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina.
- Authorities ruled her death a suicide.
- A federal grand jury later indicted John-Paul Miller on cyberstalking and false-statement charges.
- Miller has pleaded not guilty.
- He has not been charged with Mica’s death.
- Netflix released Death of the Pastor’s Wife on August 26, 2026.
These points are important because online discussions about the case sometimes combine separate allegations, investigations and official findings.
Who Was Mica Miller?
Mica Miller was known publicly as the wife of John-Paul Miller and as a member of the Solid Rock Church community.
Netflix’s documentary presents her as a young woman involved in church life and worship ministry.
The series uses interviews, archival material and previously unseen material to reconstruct her life and her relationship with John-Paul.
Netflix describes the documentary as an examination of Mica’s life, her marriage and the circumstances surrounding her death.
The documentary’s three episodes are titled:
- “A Note From Your Pastor”
- “Helpmate”
- “What Happened to Mica”
Netflix says the series explores Mica’s relationship with John-Paul, the deterioration of their marriage and the events surrounding her death.
Who Is John-Paul Miller?
John-Paul Miller was the pastor of Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
He became a central figure in the case because of his relationship with Mica and because federal prosecutors later accused him of cyberstalking her before her death.
The federal indictment was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina in December 2025.
Prosecutors alleged that Miller engaged in a course of unwanted communications and harassment beginning in November 2022 and continuing until Mica’s death.
The indictment includes allegations that he:
- repeatedly contacted Mica;
- allegedly posted an intimate image of her online without consent;
- allegedly arranged for tracking devices to be placed on her vehicle;
- allegedly interfered with aspects of her finances and daily activities; and
- allegedly damaged her vehicle’s tires.
These are allegations contained in a federal indictment, not findings of guilt. The U.S. Department of Justice explicitly states that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What Charges Does John-Paul Miller Face?
Miller faces two federal counts.
The first is cyberstalking.
The second concerns allegedly making false statements to federal investigators.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on December 18, 2025. According to prosecutors, the cyberstalking count carries a potential maximum sentence of five years, while the false-statements count carries a potential maximum of two years if convicted, along with possible fines.
Miller has pleaded not guilty.
Most importantly, the federal indictment does not accuse Miller of killing Mica.
That distinction is essential when describing the case accurately.
What Did Investigators Say About Mica’s Final Day?
The official investigation reconstructed much of Mica’s final day.
According to reporting based on the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigation, surveillance footage showed Mica at a South Carolina pawn shop where she purchased a firearm and ammunition.
She subsequently traveled toward North Carolina.
At Lumber River State Park, she contacted 911.
Authorities said she asked whether emergency dispatchers could locate her phone and indicated that she was going to kill herself.
A search followed after the call ended.
Her body was eventually found in the park.
The official investigation concluded that the evidence was consistent with suicide.
Why Did the Case Continue to Raise Questions?
The case continued to attract attention for reasons separate from the official cause-of-death determination.
Mica had been involved in a difficult separation from John-Paul.
There were also allegations concerning harassment and stalking, some of which eventually became part of the federal prosecution against him.
Her family and friends questioned aspects of the circumstances surrounding her death and publicly sought additional scrutiny.
At the same time, authorities maintained their determination that Mica’s death was a suicide.
The later federal indictment created a distinction between two issues:
Manner of death: Authorities ruled Mica’s death a suicide.
Conduct before death: Federal prosecutors later accused John-Paul Miller of cyberstalking and lying to investigators.
The second issue is being addressed through the federal criminal process.
What Does the Netflix Documentary Reveal?
Netflix’s Death of the Pastor’s Wife revisits the case from the perspective of people who knew Mica and the filmmakers who investigated her story.
The documentary includes family accounts, archival footage and material concerning her marriage.
Netflix describes the series as an examination of Mica’s “promising life” and the circumstances surrounding her death.
The series also examines allegations concerning control within the marriage.
Because the documentary includes accounts from people involved in the story, viewers should distinguish between:
- statements made by family and friends;
- allegations presented in the documentary;
- law-enforcement findings;
- federal prosecutors’ allegations; and
- facts established through court proceedings.
Those categories are not interchangeable.
Who Is John-Paul Miller’s New Wife?
Following Mica Miller’s death, John-Paul Miller later married Suzie Skinner.
According to reporting on the documentary, the two married in June 2025, more than a year after Mica’s death.
Skinner had been connected to Solid Rock Church, where John-Paul served as pastor.
The couple’s relationship has also received scrutiny because people interviewed for the documentary made allegations about the timing and nature of their relationship before Mica’s death.
Those claims should be described as allegations rather than established facts unless supported by independent evidence or court findings.
John-Paul Miller and Suzie Skinner have remained largely private about their relationship.
What Officials and Organizations Have Said
The U.S. Department of Justice publicly announced the federal indictment against John-Paul Miller in December 2025.
The department said the indictment involved cyberstalking and false statements and emphasized that the charges were accusations and that Miller was presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated Mica’s death and determined it was a suicide after reviewing evidence surrounding her final hours.
Netflix, meanwhile, has presented the case through its three-part documentary, focusing on Mica’s life, her marriage and the continuing legal and social questions surrounding the case.
These sources address different parts of the story. Law enforcement investigated the death; federal prosecutors brought charges concerning alleged conduct before her death; and Netflix produced a documentary examining the broader story.
The Federal Case Against John-Paul Miller
The federal prosecution is one of the most significant developments after Mica’s death.
The indictment alleges a period of conduct beginning in November 2022 and continuing until April 2024.
According to the Justice Department, investigators alleged that Miller used electronic communications and other means to harass, intimidate or monitor Mica.
Miller has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
The case therefore remains unresolved in court.
A later 2026 report from Court TV said Miller’s attorneys were seeking additional time to review discovery and locate evidence they described as potentially exculpatory. The report said his federal trial had been delayed.
Why the Death of the Pastor’s Wife Remains in the News
The story combines several developments that have continued well beyond Mica’s death.
First, her death generated public interest because she was the estranged wife of a prominent local pastor and had reportedly expressed fears about her safety.
Second, federal authorities subsequently brought criminal charges against John-Paul Miller concerning alleged cyberstalking.
Third, Netflix’s 2026 documentary has introduced the case to a new global audience.
The documentary was released on August 26, 2026, and consists of three episodes.
The result has been renewed interest in questions that have circulated since 2024.
But renewed public interest does not change the official finding about Mica’s death.
What Happens Next?
The next major development is the continuation of John-Paul Miller’s federal criminal case.
As of September 2026, he remains accused of cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators. He has pleaded not guilty.
A Court TV report published in August 2026 said the federal proceedings had been delayed while Miller’s defense continued reviewing evidence.
The criminal case could establish findings concerning the allegations against Miller, but it should not be described as a prosecution for Mica’s death.
There is also continuing public discussion surrounding “Mica’s Law,” a proposed legal reform effort associated with Mica’s family. Netflix’s reporting says her family continues to advocate for changes they believe could improve protections for people experiencing domestic abuse and stalking.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the death of the pastor’s wife about?
The phrase refers to the case of Mica Miller, the estranged wife of South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller. Mica died on April 27, 2024, and authorities ruled her death a suicide. The case is now the subject of Netflix’s documentary Death of the Pastor’s Wife.
2. Who was Mica Miller?
Mica Miller was a 30-year-old woman who was married to pastor John-Paul Miller. She was involved with the Solid Rock Church community and was in the process of divorcing Miller when she died in April 2024.
3. How did Mica Miller die?
Authorities determined that Mica Miller died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina on April 27, 2024. Her death was officially ruled a suicide.
4. Was John-Paul Miller charged with Mica Miller’s death?
No. John-Paul Miller was not charged with causing Mica’s death. He was federally indicted on charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators relating to alleged conduct before her death.
5. Did John-Paul Miller plead guilty?
No. Miller pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him. The allegations remain subject to the federal criminal process.
6. What is Death of the Pastor’s Wife on Netflix?
Death of the Pastor’s Wife is a three-part Netflix documentary series about Mica Miller, her relationship with John-Paul Miller and the circumstances surrounding her death. It premiered on August 26, 2026.
7. Who is John-Paul Miller’s new wife?
John-Paul Miller married Suzie Skinner in June 2025, according to reporting about the Netflix documentary and the case. Skinner had been associated with Solid Rock Church.
8. Is Mica Miller’s death still officially considered a suicide?
Yes. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office determined that Mica Miller died by suicide after investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
9. When was Death of the Pastor’s Wife released?
Netflix released the three-part documentary on August 26, 2026.
10. Where did Mica Miller die?
Mica Miller died at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina, where authorities found her after she contacted emergency services.
