Mica Miller's death takes stunning twist as crime sleuths spot suspicious detail in pastor husband's interview just days after her 'suicide' - forcing him to issue blistering statement

A suspicious detail in a pastor husband's interview filmed days after his wife died has raised speculation amongst internet sleuths.

Mica Miller, 30, was found dead at Lumbee River State Park in North Carolina on April 27 from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

Her death came days after serving her husband John-Paul Miller, 44, with divorce papers following a tumultuous relationship. 

Miller gave an interview with ABC15  just days later while wearing a necklace similar to the one his wife was frequently pictured in.

During the interview, Miller breaks down in tears saying: 'She was the greatest wife anyone could ever ask for. We spent every night together just talking and talking.'

Images taken at a pawn shop prior to her death show Mica purchasing a gun, wearing a similar necklace.  

John-Paul Miller, 44, gave an interview with ABC15 while wearing a necklace similar to the one his wife Mica Miller was frequently pictured in just days after she was found dead

Images taken at a pawn shop prior to her death show Mica purchasing a gun, wearing a similar necklace

Her death came days after serving her husband John Paul Miller, 44, with divorce papers following a tumultuous relationship

Online sleuths seem to suggest that the two necklaces are one and the same and that he was wearing the exact necklace she was last seen in. 

It has lead to speculation online about how he may have come about obtaining the necklace.  

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

The pastor stunned his congregants last week when, after a service in which he had laughed and appeared entirely at ease, he announced that his wife had died.

Miller, who has a criminal record including multiple counts of aggravated assault and battery to which he pleaded guilty, told his congregation that her death was 'self-induced.'

'You all know she wasn't well mentally and that she needed her medicine and it was hard to get to her,' he said.

Prior to making the announcement, he asked his flock to stand and instructed them to, 'leave church quietly and don't talk about the announcement here in the building.'

In a statement released on Thursday via his lawyers, which was also shared by his former church on social media, said the speculation was unfounded rumors and false. 

The statement said: 'Following the untimely death of Mica Miller, unfounded rumors and false accusations began circulating on social media and in various media outlets, suggesting Pastor Miller's involvement in her demise.

'This created a buzz, causing local and national media outlets to begin proliferating these falsehoods, on a mammoth proportion. 

In the days after her death, her friends and family held a rally calling for 'justice for Mica' outside the Solid Rock Church where Pastor Miller worked

Police have now released images Miller in the lead up to her death amid conjecture about the circumstances. Pictured: Miller at her South Carolina home the day she died

'Our client refutes any report that suggests he ever abused his wife. Recent reports claim that Pastor Miller 'groomed' his wife from the age of 10 years old couldn't be farther from the truth. 

'She moved to Myrtle Beach at the age of 15, was married to another man at the age of 18, and divorced at the age of, 21.'

It continued: ' It has come to light that Mica Miller struggled with mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder, which, when not properly managed, led to paranoid episodes and self-destructive behavior. 

'Again, Mica suffered from mental illness and some reports made by her in the recent past are nonsensical. 

Timeline leading to Mica Miller's death

'This unfortunate reality underscores the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues and ensuring those affected receive appropriate support and treatment.

'We wish to emphasize that, after a thorough investigation by the Robeson County, North Carolina Sheriffs Office, it has been conclusively determined that Ms. Miller's death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

'This finding completely exonerates Pastor Miller of any wrongdoing. These baseless claims and false reporting have caused immense distress and harm to Pastor Miller and his family and needs to stop immediately.'

His lawyers also warned that any 'defamatory and libelous statements' made would be met with legal action. 

A police report over the alleged auto theft of her silver Honda Accord shows how far their marital problems stretched back. 

'When the complainant was discharged from the hospital, hospital staff informed her that her husband picked up her purse and her keys,' the report from February 2023 states. 

'The complainant believed that her husband fraudulently initiated her involuntary hospitalization and "stole" her care while she was in the hospital.'

Miller met with the cops at Coastal Grand Mall and told them she and her husband had been separated since January of that year.

'The complainant stated that she has known her husband since she was ten-years-old and that he "groomed" her while she worked for him at Solid Rock Church until they were married,' the report adds.

When investigators contacted her husband, he told them that his wife had been suffering from a 'reckless episode' due to poor mental health.

The former pastor told the officer he had seized the vehicle to prevent it being sold and would not give it back for a month to allow the episode to pass.

Miller (right), 30, died by suicide suicide on April 27, days after filing for divorce from John-Paul Miller, 44, (left)

Miller told cops she had known her husband since she was 10-years-old and that he groomed her 'for years' before they married

As both parties stated they were legally married, the investigator had to consider the car as marital property and therefore 'could not establish a criminal offense'.

Weeks before her passing, she shared a video speaking about abuse within marriage as claims emerge she was being harassed and was 'afraid for her life'. 

She said: 'Today my heart's a little heavy. I've had lots of women that have reached out to me about situations of abuse, and I just want to tell you what a lot of people have told me lately, because I think I forgot.

'But you are the bride of Christ before anybody else's, male or female, it doesn't matter what gender you are, abuse is abuse.'

Court records hint at the tumult within the marriage with Mica first filing for divorce back in October 2023 before withdrawing the filing February 12.

Later that same month Miller filed against his wife for Separate Support and Maintenance in a motion withdrawn March 11.

But on April 15, just 12 days before she was found dead, Mica filed once more and, according to friends, also sought a no contact order against her husband. 

A police reported obtained by DailyMail.com shows that Miller also contacted officers accusing her husband of sharing an indecent photo of herself on a Facebook group called 'big boobs and nice curves'.

An obituary penned by him also described his wife as 'a great stepmother, and an amazing wife and helpmate' and portrayed her as his biggest cheerleader.

Miller had called authorities before taking her own life, telling them: 'I'm about to kill myself and I just want my family to know where to find me'.

Family and friends have insisted that Miller did not take her own life, her sister Sierra Brown previously told DailyMail.com that 'there's still an open investigation'.

Miller is observed on store surveillance walking into Dick’s Pawn Shop in Myrtle Beach, SC

Mica Miller (pictured) died just weeks after a cop filed a report claiming she told him she was afraid for her life 

Mica's friends Kenn and Allicia Young spoke out on NewsNation and said they do not believe the pastor's wife took her own life

Miller’s black Honda is observed traveling on Highway 501 near Four Mile Rd., Conway, South Carolina on April 27 hours before her death

Friend Allicia Young, who is a member of the Solid Rock Church alongside her husband Kenn, said: 'I absolutely do not believe that she took her own life.' 

'I absolutely do not believe that she took her own life because she was energetic and her faith in God was unwavering,' Allicia said on Banfield.

'She was always quick to encourage somebody else, including myself. We went to lunches together, we worked out together.'

Evidence released by Robeson County Sheriff's Office as part of their investigation conclusively shows Miller plotting to end her life.

A still from a Ring doorbell shows her on her front porch at 11am on the day of her death.

Just over an hour later, a surveillance image shows her entering Dick's Pawn Shop where she purchases a fire arm.

A waitress told how the pastor had been sending her flirty messages, including calling her 'super hot' and asking for 'bikini pics' while still married

Shortly after, Miller's black Honda was observed traveling on Highway 501 near Four Mile Rd., Conway, South Carolina on the way to the state park.

Once there she called 911 to provide instructions to a dispatcher on where her body could be found. 

Meanwhile a waitress claims Pastor Miller was sending her flirty messages while his wife planned to kill herself, including calling her 'super hot' and asking for 'bikini pics.'

'I asked him if anything was new, and he more or less said yes, lots new, LOL, I'll text later,' she told NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas, confirming LOL stands for 'laugh out loud'.

The waitress explained she had engaged with the pastor in a bid to expose his behavior after becoming 'suspicious' he might be married.

Pastor Miller has since been released of his ministerial functions at Solid Rock at Market Common Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.