Mica Miller Update: Police Release New Information About Death
Police on Tuesday released more information on the death of Mica Miller, the wife of a South Carolina pastor whose body was found in the water at Lumber River State Park late last month.
Miller, 30, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Robeson County medical examiner Dr. Richard Johnson told local news station WPDE-TV on Monday. She was found dead at the North Carolina park on April 27.
Two incident reports from March 11 detail Miller's statements about a man following and harassing her, and deflating her car tires. She reported hearing a pop and saw metal protruding from her tire, according to one report. The metal was a tire deflation device, Horry County police in South Carolina said. Miller provided a name—which was redacted in the report—of someone who she believed was responsible, WPDE reported. But police said there was insufficient evidence to prove he placed the device.
On March 22, Miller posted a video on Facebook, offering advice to those who may be enduring an abusive relationship. Weeks later, she filed for separation from her husband, John-Paul Miller, pastor at Solid Rock at Market Common church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Family members have called on authorities to investigate her death, and her friends have said they don't believe that she took her life.
Newsweek reached out to John-Paul Miller for comment via email to his church on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the Robeson County Sheriff's Office released a detailed report on the death that's been ruled a suicide based on "surveillance footage, interviews, physical evidence, and the examination of the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office."
According to the office, a 911 call was placed at approximately 2:45 p.m. April 27. The caller asked if her phone could be located "because she was going to kill herself and wanted her family to be able to find her body ... The dispatcher was able to find the location of the caller and dispatched a Deputy to the location."
Deputies were sent to Lumber River State Park in Orrum, North Carolina, where they conducted a search with the aid of state park rangers. A black Honda Accord belonging to Mica Miller was identified in the parking lot of the park.
"Investigators located a Sig Sauer gun case in the passenger seat of the vehicle and a box of ammunition in the center console of the vehicle," the Robeson County Sheriff's Office's media release said. "The Investigators also found a receipt for the Sig Sauer handgun from a pawn shop and a receipt from a convenience store in the vehicle. Both receipts were dated for the same day of Miller's death."
While authorities searched the park, they were approached by someone who found a bag that contained Miller's identification. The individual, who had been fishing, also said they heard someone crying and a gunshot.
While the search continued, another 911 call was received from someone who reported a body was seen in the park's water. Law enforcement found the body and identified the victim as Mica Miller.
A Sig Sauer handgun with the serial number matching the gun box found in Miller's Honda was found at the scene. Other personal belongings, including Miller's phone, were also discovered.
"The investigation also revealed that Miller and her estranged husband had been separated and were involved in the legal system. This information led to the investigators confirming the whereabouts of [John-Paul] Miller and a female that he is allegedly romantically involved with," the report said. "Investigators were able to confirm that both individuals were not in North Carolina on the night before and the day of Miller's death."
Authorities said they determined John-Paul Miller was at an "athletic event" on the day of his wife's death, and that it had been confirmed he was accompanied by someone while traveling to and from the event.
Police and the medical examiner met with Mica Miller's parents and other immediate family members on Tuesday. John-Paul Miller's attorney reportedly informed authorities that he would be attending the meeting.
The Robeson County Sheriff's Office also released a timeline of the day of Miller's death.
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said in the media release that "this incident has garnered much attention," adding that "a very methodical investigation was conducted by our Criminal Investigations Team and Crime Scene Investigative Team."
"Unfortunately, rumors and conspiracy theories were spreading quickly, and assumptions were being made," Wilkins continued. "However, in the end, we must make decisions based on the facts, and evidence that has been gathered.
"While I know it's not what many people wanted to hear, the evidence is quite clear and compelling, and we are as saddened as anyone that this occurred. There are many factors that we have reviewed that occurred over an extended period of time that are probably related to the reason for this investigation, but in the end, sadly, a tragic decision was made by Mica that ended her life."
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