South Carolina pastor indicted on cyberstalking in case tied to estranged wife's 2024 suicide
Indictment accuses John Paul Miller, 46, of harassing his estranged wife for more than a year, including posting a nude photo and tracking her movements, before her 2024 death
A disgraced South Carolina pastor was indicted on federal charges accusing him of cyberstalking and making false statements about his estranged wife, who died by suicide in 2024.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, John Paul Miller, 46, began sending unwanted and harassing communications to Mica Miller in November 2022 and continued the conduct through her death on April 27, 2024. "The defendant’s alleged actions were predatory, measured, and inflicted profound trauma to the victim, her family, and loved ones," FBI Agent in Charge Kevin Moore told local news station WMBF.
The indictment outlines specific acts, according to prosecutors, including posting a nude photo of Mica Miller online without her consent, contacting her more than 50 times in a single day, and placing tracking devices on her vehicle. Prosecutors said he also damaged her tires, though he denied it; investigators found he had purchased a tire deflation device online and discussed the vehicle with others.
Mica Miller’s family described the case as a matter of coercive control, and Regina Ward, attorney for the family, told WPDE that Mica spoke to people about the abuse and kept a journal. Mica Miller’s body was found in the waters of Lumber River State Park near Orrum, North Carolina, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound; she had called 911 before authorities found her, the Post and Courier reported.
Miller now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for cyberstalking, two years for false statements, and fines up to $250,000, authorities said.
The case also draws attention to broader issues of coercive control. In the wake of Mica Miller’s death, South Carolina lawmakers discussed new measures to address nonphysical abuse, and Sen. Stephen Goldfinch (R-S.C.) introduced "Mica’s Law" aimed at criminalizing coercive control in South Carolina.
Beyond the current indictment, the notes show Miller faced earlier allegations. He was sued by a woman in Indiana who accused him of raping her in 1998 when she was 15 and he was 19, while he worked as a youth church leader; he denied the allegations in a counterclaim, according to People and ABC 4.
Authorities say Miller’s harassment interfered with Mica Miller’s finances and daily activities. She left a life that some described as marked by coercive control, a form of nonphysical abuse that has drawn increased attention in related policy debates.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Local resources can be found at dontcallthepolice.com. For international help, see the International Association for Suicide Prevention.