Pastor Arrested for Stalking Wife and Posting Her Nude Photo Online Before Her Death

A South Carolina pastor has been federally indicted on charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators following the tragic death of his wife last year. John-Paul Miller, 46, is accused of harassing his estranged wife, Mica Miller, in the months leading up to her death, including posting a nude photo of her online without consent.

Miller, who previously served as a pastor at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, was indicted on Thursday by a federal grand jury. The charges include felony cyberstalking and making false statements to investigators, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The indictment claims Miller’s abusive behavior towards his wife began in November 2022 and continued until her death in April 2024.

Mica Miller, 30, was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina, and her death was ruled a suicide. However, the case gained national attention after accusations surfaced that Miller had been abusive toward his wife in the months leading up to her death. Prosecutors allege that Miller sent “unwanted and harassing communications” to Mica, including one instance where he contacted her more than 50 times in a single day. He is also accused of interfering with her finances, damaging her vehicle, and posting explicit images of her without her consent.

Miller is the father of five children with Mica. Following her death, he made an announcement to his congregation, stating that he would be taking a break from his duties at the church. “I’m taking a little bit of a break and I don’t want to have to worry about the church,” he said during his sermon. “My break may be a few days, a few weeks, I don’t know.”

As the investigation unfolded, reports began to surface about the abusive dynamics in the Millers’ marriage. A police report from May 2024 revealed that Mica had alleged her husband did not allow her to drive and had “groomed” her for years before they married in 2017. The report indicated that Mica had known her husband since she was 10 years old and that he had manipulated her during their time at Solid Rock Church.

Mica Acacia Miller, originally from Wichita, Kansas, was described by her family as “energetic, affirming, and adventurous” in her obituary. She married John-Paul Miller in 2017 and became deeply involved in church leadership, serving as the worship leader, graphics designer, youth leader, women’s ministry leader, and Pastor’s assistant. Her family fondly remembered her as “a great stepmother, and an amazing wife and helpmate.”

If convicted on the cyberstalking charge, Miller faces up to five years in prison, with an additional two years for making false statements to investigators. He is set to appear for his arraignment on January 12 in federal court in Florence, South Carolina.