(NewsNation) — The family of Mica Miller is calling for more investigations into her death, which came as she was pursuing a divorce from her husband, John-Paul Miller, a South Carolina pastor.
Mica Miller was found dead of a gunshot wound in April. Police ruled her death a suicide, but details have surfaced about her marriage, divorce and multiple calls to the police about her estranged husband’s actions.
It’s been more than a month since authorities said Mica Miller took her own life. Her death invited intense speculation about her husband and the abuse Mica Miller said she experienced ahead of her divorce proceeding.
Her sisters told NewsNation that Mica Miller’s death needs more scrutiny and a better investigation.
“There were definitely bruises on Mica’s hands that the medical examiner had no recollection of, and I did ask him personally is there any chance that a body would have bruises on it from [being] collected from the water or someone touching her after examining her?” said her sister, Anna Francis.
He said no, Francis told NewsNation, that there was no chance of a body bruising after the heart stops beating.
“So our family, instead of grieving her at the funeral home, we had to go into fight mode, investigation mode, and do the job ourselves because Robeson County was neglecting to do a proper investigation,” she said. “They made a pretty PowerPoint that lined up perfectly every reason why she would have done this herself, and they didn’t investigate the other side at all.”
The FBI confirmed that the Robeson County sheriff had contacted them but told NewsNation that, per agency policy, they were unable to confirm or deny the potential existence of any investigation.
On Sunday, dozens of friends and community members were speaking out, vowing to do so every Sunday in front of Solid Rock Church, the church that John-Paul Miller founded.
The church previously announced John-Paul Miller had been released from ministerial duties, but he is still employed by the church.
Holding signs saying “Justice for Mica,” they hoped to bring awareness about domestic violence and abuse in the wake of her death.
“We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to be here every Sunday, even if it’s not a huge group. There’s always going to be people here every Sunday until we find justice for Mica,” said protester Alexandra Cuozzo.
Recently, questions have been raised after John-Paul Miller was pictured wearing his wife’s diamond necklace. It is the same necklace she was wearing in surveillance videos where she was seen buying a gun.
When NewsNation reached out to Miller, he confirmed in a text that it belonged to his estranged wife.
“The hospital gave it to me when I saw her body on Sunday. And I immediately put it on to feel close to her,” he wrote. “She loved that necklace.”
But Mica Miller’s sister, Destinee Barrientos, said that isn’t why he’s wearing it.
“It is, in our opinion, not something that is to feel close to her; it’s more of a trophy,” she said. “It is more, essentially, almost having something to still hang over her. She was trying to get away, so I think it’s a final piece of her not being able to get away.”
Mica and John-Paul Miller’s divorce and estate case is due in family court on Wednesday in Horry County, South Carolina.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
