‘Mica’s List’: Family Of Mica Miller Seeks Domestic Violence Reform

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In the aftermath of the suspicious death of South Carolina pastor’s wife Mica Miller, her family is advocating zealously for the adoption of coercive control domestic violence statutes in the Palmetto State – mirroring a legal framework adopted in multiple European nations as well as in California, Massachusetts and New Jersey. 

In doing so, they are detailing the depth – and breadth – of the abuse she allegedly endured at the hands of her former husband.

Miller’s story fueled nationwide shock and speculation after her body was found at 4:23 p.m. EST on April 27, 2024 at North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park – a sprawling 14,000-acre wilderness straddling this scenic blackwater river which flows into the Palmetto State.  Mica traveled to this remote location from Myrtle Beach, S.C. earlier in the day. Her body was discovered by police in a swampy area approximately forty meters from where shell casings and her belongings were found.

Mica Miller died less than two weeks after filing for divorce from her husband – pastor John-Paul “JP” Miller of the Solid Rock at Market Common church – and less than 48 hours after serving him with divorce papers.

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Mica’s death was officially ruled a suicide following investigators’ assessment of the scene – and the release of a 9-1-1 call placed prior to allegedly shooting herself in the head with a gun she purchased only hours earlier. On the call, Miller calmly told a police dispatcher of her plans to commit suicide – and inquired as to whether her phone could be tracked so family members would be able to locate her body.

Miller’s story went viral after the bizarre manner in which her husband announced her passing to their congregation – and in the wake of subsequent allegations of abuse raised by Mica Miller’s family and friends.

Since then, suspicions of foul play have run rampant.

Mica’s family members are among those who do not believe her death was a suicide. In fact, they have insisted her body was “placed” where it was found by police – and that her suicide was “staged.”

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RELATED | MICA MILLER’S SISTER SPEAKS

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Mica’s death set off a ferocious battle in state court between her estranged husband and her family – which is where the allegations of abuse against her husband were first raised. Subsequent court filings have supported these allegations, including an explosive custody motion submitted on May 31, 2024 by John-Paul Miller’s first wife, Alison “Ali” Williams.

This custody filing (.pdf) – which was reported exclusively by this news outlet — offered details of potential sexual assault allegations against Miller.

What’s the latest with regard to these allegations?

Earlier this week FITSNews reported multiple civil lawsuits were in the works against John-Paul Miller related to allegations of sexual abuse. It is still unknown if any of the upcoming civil lawsuits are tied to the allegations in Williams’ complaint, however we are are told they will be filed sooner rather than later.

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MICA’S LEGACY …

During a press conference held in Horry County on June 5, 2024, Mica’s family – along with their attorney Regina Ward – spoke passionately about their intent to push for new coercive control domestic violence statutes in South Carolina.

The framework laid out by the family would expand the definition of domestic violence to include behavior which, according to legislation already filed in South Carolina, “makes a person subordinate or dependent by isolating the person from sources of support, exploiting the person’s resources and capacities for personal gain” and “depriving the person of the means needed for independence, resistance, or escape.”

Ward cited bills introduced by S.C. Freedom Caucus chairman RJ May III (H. 3621) and state senator Katrina Shealy (S. 927) which would have made coercive control a felony – and expressed her displeasure that neither bill made it very far through the legislative process.

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This week, Mica’s family posted an expansive document to their website entitled “Mica’s List.” The document (.pdf) exhaustively enumerates the various coercive control measures – and physical and sexual abuse – she allegedly endured. According to the family, the allegations contained in the list were taken from Mica’s verbal story, her diaries, journals and writings she left behind – “at least those that were not confiscated or destroyed by her husband and ‘former pastor’ John-Paul Miller.”

The family’s goal in releasing the information was simple – to implore state lawmakers to reference items on the list as they consider changes to domestic violence laws. As it was originally proposed in January of 2021, South Carolina’s coercive control statutes would have criminalized a number of the allegations that have come to light in the aftermath of Mica’s death – many of which have been previously reported by this news outlet.

Prior to the release of ‘Mica’s List,’ though, the full spectrum of the abuse she allegedly endured was not known to the public. Here are a few examples of coercive control behavior included in “Mica’s List”:

• Isolating Mica from her family and friends by confiscating her cell phone and hiding it from her.
• Depriving her of basic needs, including sleep and transportation.
• Stalking / tracking her whereabouts using private investigators and GPS tracking devices.
• Ignoring requests or demands to be left alone including an alleged instance in which – after a police officer warned John-Paul Miller to stop contacting Mica – he allegedly trespassed into her gated apartment community to leave a “present” on top of her vehicle.
• Destroying property: According to Mica’s family, John-Paul allegedly intimidated her by destroying her property including keying her car, denting the hood with a dumbbell, slashing her tires (on at least five occasions) and cutting up the passenger seat.
• Sexual promiscuity: Mica’s family alleged that John-Paul cheated on her many times and frequently sent nude photos of himself to other women. The list states that Miller even paid a woman from church $10,000 to destroy a sexually explicit video of himself and that he paid for sex with both women and men.
• Threats: John-Paul would allegedly “make videos of (Mica) in private settings and then threaten to upload them if she did not do what he wanted.” In one instance, he uploaded a topless picture of Mica to the internet.
• Invasion of privacy: John-Paul Miller also allegedly “actively sought out her (Mica’s) journals and diaries in which she kept a log of the abuse she claimed she was suffering. When he was able to locate them, her family says he destroyed them so she wasn’t able to use them as evidence to “prove his destructive behaviors and abusive tactics.” They also claim he erased “evidence, photos, videos, and writings she kept on her iCloud and cell phone.”
• Manipulating her devices/ Identity Theft: Once John-Paul had access to Mica’s technology, he allegedly changed her passwords and took over her social media accounts, iCloud, cell phone, and email – and then communicated with others as though he were Mica. John-Paul allegedly sent “emails and texts” from these accounts “admitting” bad things in an attempt to “disgrace (Mica’s) name.”
• Engaging in lawfare: In order to continue to control and intimidate Mica, her family alleged John-Paul often abused the legal process including filing papers twice in probate court to have her involuntarily committed, claiming she was “manic” and a “danger to herself. Claims which the presiding probate judge did not agree with.
• Drugging: According to Mica’s family, John-Paul Miller “forced her to take lithium” and “forcefully gave her steroid (testosterone) shots in her arms, thighs and buttocks.” He also allegedly made her “swallow pills in his presence” and if he thought she didn’t take them he would “cut them up and put them in her food.”
• Assault: Mica’s family also claims her estranged ex-husband physically abused her without leaving marks by allegedly finger-punching her in the throat, holding her against a wall by her throat, slapping a drink out of her hand, and taking a plate of food out of her hands while they were out in public and throwing it across the room.
• Sexual assault: According to Mica’s family, her husband forced her to “perform sexual acts against her will” and to allow others to “touch her body against her will.” He also “demanded that she watch him in sexual acts with others.”

As Dylan Nolan noted in previous coverage, the proposed legislation – which stalled in South Carolina this year – included several current crimes which could lead to coercive control charges, including rape and threats of physical harm.

In what could be a preemptive response to critics of coercive control legislation who claim it is unenforceable, Mica’s family closed their list with a simple question, “If Mica was your daughter, sister, etc … where would you send her for help?”

Count on us to keep our audience up to speed on the very latest developments related to this case – as well as the status of any legislation introduced in the S.C. General Assembly related to Mica Miller. Also, count on us to continue investigating multiple threads related to her suspicious and tragic death – and potential civil and criminal inquiries based on the various allegations leveled in its aftermath.

Got info? Contact us at research@fitsnews.com.

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MICA’S LIST

(Justice for Mica Miller)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jenn Wood is FITSNews’ incomparable research director. She’s also the producer of the FITSFiles and Cheer Incorporated podcasts and leading expert on all things Murdaugh/ South Carolina justice. A former private investigator with a criminal justice degree, evildoers beware, Jenn Wood is far from your average journalist! A deep dive researcher with a passion for truth and a heart for victims, this mom of two is pretty much a superhero in FITSNews country. Did we mention she’s married to a rocket scientist? (Lucky guy!) Got a story idea or a tip for Jenn? Email her at jenn@fitsnews.com.

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