FLORENCE (SC)
HuffPost [New York NY]
December 19, 2025
By Pocharapon Neammanee
Federal authorities described the disgraced pastor’s actions as “predatory, measured, and inflicted profound trauma to the victim.”
A disgraced South Carolina pastor was indicted this week and accused of harassing his estranged wife for more than a year before she died by suicide in 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of South Carolina announced Thursday.
“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.
John Paul Miller, 46, was indicted on charges of cyberstalking and false statements after federal authorities said he began sending “unwanted and harassing communications” to his wife, Mica Miller, 30, in November 2022 and committed a string of “harassing behavior” up until her suicide on April 27, 2024.
Among the alleged acts John Paul Miller committed were posting a nude photo of Mica Miller online without her consent, contacting her over 50 times in a single day and placing tracking devices on her vehicle.
“I know that she had complained to me that he would just show up randomly at places where he shouldn’t even know where she is, when she was having lunch with someone or whatever,” Regina Ward, the attorney representing Mica Miller’s family, told WPDE.
On another occasion, John Paul Millier allegedly damaged Mica Miller’s tires, but denied it. Prosecutors, however, found he had purchased a tire deflation device online and messaged others about the vehicle, according to the indictment reviewed by HuffPost.
This would also not be the first time John Paul Miller faced allegations of wrongdoing. He was sued by a woman in Indiana, who accused him of raping her in 1998 when she was 15 years old and he was 19, working as a youth church leader, People reports. He denied the allegations in a counterclaim, ABC 4 reports.
Authorities say his harassment interfered with Mica Miller’s “finances and her daily activities.” He is now facing a maximum of five years in prison for cyberstalking, two years in prison for his false statements and a fine of up to $250,000.
Attorneys representing John Paul Miller did not immediately respond to HuffPost when reached for a statement on the allegations.
Mica Miller was found dead in the waters at Lumber River State Park near Orrum, North Carolina, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Post and Courier reports. The outlet noted that she called 911 before her body was found, expressing concern that she might harm herself.
John Paul Miller faced intense scrutiny following Mica Miller’s death, as her family said she was a victim of “coercive control,” a form of nonphysical abuse such as financial manipulation or isolation. Ward said Mica Miller opened up about her experience to others and in a journal.
A year after Mica Miller’s death, Sen. Stephen Goldfinch (R-S.C) introduced “Mica’s Law,” aimed at criminalizing coercive control in South Carolina.
“Just thank you. Thank you. Thank you to everyone, all the supporters, all the protesters, all of the reporters, everyone who has taken an interest in this case, because without that, we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” Ward told WPDE.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-866-331-9474 or text “loveis” to 22522 for the National Dating Abuse Helpline.