This article mentions suicide. 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 800-273-8255. People are available to talk 24/7.
(NewsNation) — A fisherman who was on the lake near where Mica Miller is thought to have died by suicide exclusively retraced Miller’s final steps with NewsNation correspondent Rich McHugh.
Mica Miller, 30, was found dead at Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina. Her husband, John-Paul Miller, was pastor of Solid Rock Church in Market Common in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. John-Paul Miller was served with divorce papers just two days before his wife’s body was found in Robeson County, according to an affidavit filed by Sierra Francis, Mica Miller’s sister.
“I started hearing the crying, and then I heard a gunshot,” claimed the fisherman, who asked to remain anonymous. “The crying stopped. That’s when I felt like something bad had happened.”
He told NewsNation he heard cries and a gunshot before finding Mica Miller’s belongings, which included a Bible, her driver’s license and $500 in what looked like a fanny pack.
He did not, however, find or see her body. He did speak with the police and wasn’t the only one who called the police.
The fisherman is hoping to clear his name regarding accusations hurled about him online.
“Quit trying to be investigators. I did not do this. There’s no way in the world I would harm anyone, even my worst enemy. I was just here fishing. I’m trying to figure out what happened. I could have done something. I wished I would have done something,” the fisherman said.
Mica Miller files for divorce
According to reports, Mica Miller had filed multiple times for a legal separation from her husband. 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 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).”
John-Paul Miller on the death
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 congregation.
“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, urging police to “deeply investigate” what happened.
NewsNation’s Kelsey Kernstine contributed to this report.
