Months after the tragic suicide of Mica Miller, wife of Myrtle Beach Pastor John-Paul Miller, and the ensuing public outcry, the pastor finds himself facing legal charges. This development comes amidst ongoing protests and lingering questions surrounding Mica Miller’s death, keeping the case in the public eye.
The charge against Pastor John-Paul Miller stems from an incident involving Sandra Karon, a protester participating in the “Justice for Mica” demonstrations outside Solid Rock at Market Commons church. According to reports from WBTW news, the confrontation occurred on Wednesday, November 6th, when Karon, among other protesters, approached Miller outside his church.
The “Justice for Mica” protests have been a recurring event every Sunday since May, fueled by accusations from family and friends of Mica Miller who believe Pastor John-Paul Miller bears responsibility for her death in April. Mica Miller, 30, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a ruling that has not quelled the suspicions and grief of those who knew her.
Video footage of the incident, also obtained by WBTW, shows Pastor John-Paul Miller turning towards Sandra Karon and approaching her. He is seen pointing his phone in her direction. Karon can be heard stating, “You are in my personal…,” before Miller makes a movement with his phone that Karon perceived as provocative. Following this, Karon continued to follow him, verbally accosting him, calling him a “psychopath,” and alleging that he had touched her.
Sandra Karon described the encounter, stating, “He was right in my face and he said, ‘What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do?’ And he had his phone up in my face and tapped the brim of my hat twice while he was saying it.” While acknowledging the action might be seen as antagonistic, she questioned, “But to antagonize someone into doing something illegal—am I responsible for him doing that?”
Responding to the protesters’ call, police arrived at the scene and subsequently arrested Pastor John-Paul Miller. He was charged with “assault / assault and battery 3rd degree.” He was released the following day after posting a $776 bond. A hearing regarding the assault charge is scheduled for December 10th.
This arrest happened just four days after a significant FBI raid at Pastor Miller’s Myrtle Beach residence. The FBI executed a search warrant and removed items from the property, which, along with the Solid Rock church, is part of a substantial $5.59 million real estate portfolio associated with Solid Rock Ministries. When questioned about the raid, the FBI declined to comment, citing their policy of not discussing potential indictments.
Following the raid, there were visible signs of activity suggesting a relocation of Solid Rock Church. Movers were observed removing items from the church building, and the church sign was taken down. Public records indicate that Pastor Miller has applied for a business license for a new ministry named Living Water Church at Market Common Inc., which was approved in South Carolina on October 17th.
Pastor John-Paul Miller has maintained silence towards the press. In a prior statement, he warned that any future attempts to contact him would be considered “harassment.”
The death of Mica Miller was initially ruled a suicide by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office in May. Pastor John-Paul Miller attributed her death to her struggles with mental health, stating she suffered from “bipolar II, schizophrenic and dependent personality disorder” and had a history of suicide attempts.
However, Mica Miller’s family and friends have consistently challenged this narrative, alleging that Pastor Miller subjected her to abusive behavior, contributing to her suicide. Mica Miller had recently filed for divorce and a no-contact order against Pastor Miller. Reports also indicated they were living separately, and the sheriff’s statement mentioned Pastor Miller was “allegedly romantically involved with” another woman.
Adding to the complexities, an affidavit filed by Mica’s sister, Sierra Francis, on May 6th, detailed Mica’s claims of abuse and violence at the hands of her husband. According to the affidavit, Mica Miller had stated, “If I end up with a bullet in my head, it was not by me, it was by JP.”
Further complicating the situation was an open investigation by the Myrtle Beach police into Mica Miller at the time of her death. She was suspected of stealing $1,199 from the Solid Rock Church’s African missionary fund, allegedly depositing it into her personal bank account. Pastor John-Paul Miller was listed as an “involved other” in the police report. The city attorney later closed this case, classifying it as a “civil matter.”
In May, the sheriff’s office requested the FBI and U.S. attorney’s office to assist in the investigation into Mica Miller’s death. Despite this, no federal charges have been filed to date concerning her death. Pastor John-Paul Miller, contrary to some reports, remained on staff at Solid Rock Church during this period.
In late July, civil lawsuits involving Pastor Miller, Mica’s family, and Solid Rock Ministries reached a confidential settlement. While specifics were not disclosed, it was revealed that the settlement eliminated the possibility of future civil wrongful death claims related to Mica Miller’s suicide. Sierra Francis withdrew her petition to administer Mica’s estate as part of the agreement. Notably, all parties agreed to advocate for the passage of a “coercive control” law in South Carolina, which would criminalize various forms of coercive behaviors.
Regina Ward, Mica’s divorce attorney, described coercive control as “psychological warfare.” She asserted that if the coercive control bill had been in effect at the time of Mica’s death, Pastor John-Paul Miller would have been found guilty of multiple violations.
The arrest of Pastor John-Paul Miller for assault marks a new chapter in this ongoing saga. While the charge is relatively minor, it underscores the persistent public scrutiny and the unresolved questions surrounding the death of Mica Miller and the actions of Pastor John-Paul Miller. The legal proceedings and investigations continue to unfold, keeping this case firmly in the spotlight.
