MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (NewsNation) — A South Carolina woman who was found dead in a North Carolina state park of an apparent gunshot wound to her head had previously told police in March after a series of harassment incidents that she feared for her life.
“The victim advised me she was afraid for her life,” Horry County Police Department Officer Nick D’Amocamtonio wrote in an incident report from March 11.
If you or someone you know needs help, resources or someone to talk to, you can find it at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website or by calling 1-800-273-8255. People are available to talk to 24×7.
The report continued, “While I was out with the victim, she received a No Caller ID call which ended up being the suspect, the suspect was advised that the victim does not want any further contact and if he proceeds then warrants may possibly be written up.”
Mica Miller, 30, was found dead April 27 with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at Lumber State Park in Lumberton, North Carolina, according to the police report.
Mica Miller’s car tire is slashed
Two incident reports from the same day provide details of the harassment Miller reported to police. At two separate times March 11, an unknown person slashed her car tires with a tire deflation device that police said could be purchased online.
After Miller heard the pop of her tire, she drove home just in time for her tire to be completely deflated. She called the police and told the responding officer, Joseph Barrington, that she believed a suspect — whose name was redacted in police reports — was responsible for slashing her tires. However, police said there was not sufficient proof that the suspect was responsible for the destruction.
Barrington helped Miller change her tire at her residence.
Shortly after, Miller took her car to the gas station for fuel. It was then that the suspect whom Miller said she believed was responsible for slashing her tires in the first report arrived at the gas station and tried to talk to her, according to police.
Miller told the male suspect to go away and leave her alone. She pulled out her phone to record the incident, but then the suspect sped away.
Mica Miller reports harassment to police
The 30-year-old then drove straight to the local Honda dealer to get her temporary tire replaced. The suspect showed up at the car dealership again, according to police reports. That’s when Miller called the police for a second time that day.
The suspect had left by the time D’Amocamtonio arrived at the dealership. When D’Amocamtonio was with Miller, she received a “No Caller ID” phone call from the suspect, according to police reports. The officer said he talked with the suspect and told him to leave Miller alone, or else he would be cited.
The officer said the suspect acknowledged him.
After D’Amocamtonio left the dealership, Miller texted him that the dealership discovered a tracking device on her car, according to police reports. An hour after the incident, Miller was trying to get a restraining order against the suspect at the police department when D’Amocamtonio retrieved her GPS.
D’Amocamtonio was standing outside of the magistrate’s office with Miller when a white Honda Accord slowly drove by the office, and she informed the officer that was the suspect in the car, police reports state. The suspect sped up and drove away.
Mica Miller’s death investigation launched
An investigation into the April 27 death has been opened by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office after family and friends urged police to “deeply investigate” Miller’s death.
Her husband, John-Paul Miller, announced her death the following day to his congregation, claiming the 30-year-old had taken her own life after struggling with mental illness.
“I got a call late last night, my wife has passed away,” John-Paul Miller said. “It was self-induced and it was up in North Carolina.”
The pastor asked the congregation not to discuss her death inside the church — Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“Y’all pray for me and my kids and everybody. You all knew she wasn’t well mentally and she needed medicine that was hard to get to her. I’m sure there will be more details to come, but keep her family in your prayers,” he said.
However, her family and friends say otherwise and urged police to “deeply investigate” the circumstances surrounding her death.
Tim Carter, a friend of Mica Miller and her widower, told NewsNation’s Rich McHugh that he has a “gut feeling” Mica didn’t commit suicide. … I don’t believe it for a minute,” Carter said.
Similarly, Mica Miller’s former friend Ken and Allicia Young said they “absolutely believe” Mica did not take her life.
Mica Miller files for divorce
According to reports, Mica Miller had filed multiple times for a legal separation from John-Paul Miller. In October 2023, she filed for divorce.
Mica Miller posted a video on Facebook about abuse just weeks ago, offering advice for people who may be in an abusive relationship. Some believe the video is proof that Mica Miller was in an abusive relationship herself.
“God hates divorce. But why? According to everybody I’ve asked, the scriptures I’ve found, it’s because it hurts people. But does abuse hurt people? How do you think God feels about that?” Mica Miller said.
A Facebook group called “Justice for Mica” pointed out a statement in her obituary that they felt was odd.
It reads, “She would praise her husband after every church service telling him he was the best preacher in the world (even if it wasn’t true). She also told him he was the funniest preacher in the world (even though that wasn’t true either).”
Demanding justice for Mica Miller
More than a hundred people rallied outside the Myrtle Beach church Sunday, demanding justice for Mica Miller.
“I came out today to support her, to support her family, to support her story because her story is important and it needs to be heard,” a rally attendee said.
NewsNation contacted John-Paul Miller’s church for comment, which responded by saying now was not a good time for him to interview.
