Pastor announcing wife died of suicide to shocked congregation prompts family plea for her death to be investigated
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
A family have urged authorities in North Carolina to 'deeply' investigate the death of a woman whose husband says she died by suicide.
Mica Miller, 30, passed away on April 27 in Lumber River State Park. She was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Following her death, Miller's husband, pastor John-Paul Miller, announced the news during a Sunday service at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach.
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“I got a call late last night, my wife has passed away. It was self-induced and it was up in North Carolina,” John-Paul said, as reported by the New York Post.
“Y’all pray for me and my kids and everybody. You all knew she wasn’t well mentally and she needed medicine that was hard to get to her. I’m sure there will be more details to come, but keep her family in your prayers.”
He added: “She had struggled with suicide before. Each time we would help her through it and take her to the doctor, and we got through it and everything was fine. She even gave a few testimonies here at church that we have on video.
“She battled suicide but God took care of her and got her through it.”
Following the tragic incident, friends and family have been taken aback by the news and are urging police to investigate 'deeply'.
“This has to be at least looked into deeply. There’s got to be some accountability here,” Kenn Young told WPDE.
“Because yeah, a tragic life was lost, and it’s not just as simple as mental health issues.”
Meanwhile, Mica's sister said: “There is a lot of talk already going on so I want to set the record straight. Our sister Mica Miller passed away yesterday. Please do not listen to false stories being shared about her.
“Mica was a God-fearing, joyful, loving woman who did not deserve the abuse she endured.
“If you hear anything about this from anyone other than her family please question it, reach out to her siblings or parents.
"Keep our family in your prayers and if you have any information that needs to be shared please contact one of us. Please respect us in this time and honor her memory with joy that she is no longer suffering. #justiceformica.”
According to court documents seen by The Post, Mica had filed for divorce from her husband in October 2023.
The filing was dismissed in February, but a few days later, John-Paul filed for 'separate support and maintenance' while Mica also filed for 'separate support and maintenance' in April.
It's also reported that Mica had also sought a 'no contact order'.
Major Damien McLean, of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, told WPDE that officers are investigating the death.
“Officers are in the process of gathering information from people in South and North Carolina as part of their investigation into how Miller died,” he said.
UNILAD has reached out to Robeson County Sheriff's Office for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Lucy Devine