South Carolina pastor John Paul Miller, husband of the late Mica Miller, was arrested on November 6 on assault charges following an altercation with a protester at his Myrtle Beach church. This incident occurred against a backdrop of public scrutiny after Mica Miller’s death was ruled a suicide in April, and only days after the FBI conducted a search at Miller’s home.
The controversy surrounding John Paul Miller began after his wife, Mica, was found dead in North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park. The 30-year-old’s death was determined to be a suicide, but friends and community members have speculated about possible foul play due to the couple’s strained relationship.
Mica had filed for legal separation from Miller before her death. However, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE in May that there was 'no evidence connecting him to her death.' The FBI launched a parallel investigation, although it was reportedly unrelated to Mica’s case.
What did John Paul Miller do?
According to Church Leaders, Miller’s recent arrest stemmed from an alleged altercation during a protest at his church. The protester reportedly taunted Miller by saying, "Here Kitty Kitty," prompting him to confront her and begin recording with his phone.
An affidavit obtained by PEOPLE claims Miller 'got into the victim’s face,' tapped her hat, and walked away. Video footage, which police reviewed, did not show evidence of an assault, though a witness alleged Miller struck the woman twice.
John Paul Miller’s lawyer, Russell Long, told PEOPLE that the protesters were 'just baiting him and trying to coerce him,' arguing that Miller’s actions did not constitute assault. Long criticized Miller’s arrest as part of a larger campaign of harassment against him and his church, stating:
"Enough's enough. The city of Myrtle Beach has failed this guy and his churchgoers, they've allowed these people to kill this church, and they're allowing these people to stalk and harass John-Paul Miller. And arresting him just gives them more bait, right? It gives them more purpose. They're not going to stop."
The FBI’s recent search of Miller’s home has only intensified public curiosity, though details about the operation remain vague. The agency described it as a 'court-authorized law enforcement activity,' yet its timing has fueled further speculation in the community.
Concerning the suicide of Mica Miller, NewsNation released a video that provides a significant glimpse into the troubled relationship between Mica Miller and her husband, Pastor John Paul Miller, just weeks before her tragic death. The footage, captured at East Coast Honda in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shows Mica having a heated argument with John Paul Miller after she arrived at the dealership because her tires had been slashed.
In addition to the video, NewsNation also acquired police records from the Myrtle Beach Police Department documenting at least eight separate interactions between Mica and the authorities in the weeks preceding her death.
On multiple occasions, she reportedly accused John Paul Miller of disturbing behavior, which included claims of him stealing her car, secretly placing a tracking device, and having her admitted to a hospital against her will.
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Perhaps most disturbing of all, Mica alleged in one of her police statements that John Paul Miller, her pastor husband, had begun 'grooming' her at the young age of 10.
With Miller’s life under intense scrutiny, he now faces both legal and public challenges as the controversy over his wife’s death and his recent arrest continues to escalate.
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