Pastor in Trouble for Posting Nude Photo of His Wife Before Her Death

The story of a South Carolina pastor and his late wife has taken a disturbing new turn.

Federal prosecutors have charged Pastor John-Paul Miller, 46, with cyberstalking and lying to federal agents after he allegedly posted a nude photo of his estranged wife, Mica Miller, online before her tragic death.

Mica, just 30 years old, was found dead in April 2024 at Lumber River State Park, in what authorities ruled a suicide. Her death shocked her Myrtle Beach community and sparked a storm of online outrage when friends and family accused the pastor of years of emotional abuse.

Now, a federal indictment claims Miller harassed Mica for months leading up to her death — bombarding her with messages (sometimes more than 50 times in a single day), sabotaging her car tires, and interfering with her finances. Prosecutors say he even posted her nude photo without consent.

Miller, who once preached at Solid Rock Church, has five children and publicly announced his wife’s death just one day after she was found — at the end of a Sunday sermon. “I’m taking a little bit of a break,” he told his congregation before breaking the news, adding that he didn’t know how long he’d be gone.

Reports that surfaced later painted a far darker picture of the marriage. A police report obtained in May 2024 claimed that Mica told officers Miller had “groomed” her since childhood — allegedly knowing her since she was 10 years old and controlling nearly every part of her adult life.

Family members described Mica as “energetic, affirming, and adventurous.” She had poured her life into the church, serving as worship leader, youth minister, designer, and women’s ministry director.

If convicted, Miller faces up to five years in prison for cyberstalking and two years for making false statements. His arraignment is scheduled for January 12 in Florence, South Carolina.

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