|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The recent death of 56-year-old Johnnie Jacobs – the closest thing we have to a witness to the suspicious suicide of Mica Francis Miller last spring – has been deemed accidental according to an official report (.pdf) from the North Carolina chief medical examiner’s office.
Jacobs was the driver of a pickup truck struck on the passenger side by another vehicle which failed to heed a stop sign at the intersection of Iona Church Road and W. Raynham Road in Robeson County, N.C. The fatal collision took place shortly after 7:30 p.m. EDT on March 14, 2025. According to police, a 2006 Mercedes-Benz driven by 54-year-old Winston Charles James of Chester, Virginia ran the stop sign and struck Jacobs’ vehicle at a high rate of speed – causing it to overturn. Jacobs, 56, was ejected and thrown approximately 25 feet from his vehicle – causing injuries which resulted in his death.
James was charged with failure to stop at a stop sign and misdemeanor death by vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in Robeson County court to answer to the charges on July 30, 2025.
***
RELATED | MICA MILLER SAGA: COLLISION REPORT DETAILS DEATH OF KEY WITNESS
***
Jacobs is known to those following the Mica Francis Miller case as “the fisherman.” He discovered the aspiring missionary and worship leader’s belongings on April 27, 2024 – the day she died. After looking in the area where he heard the sound of crying followed by a gunshot, Jacobs came upon her belongings and collected them before later surrendering the items to law enforcement. Her body was later found submerged in that area. This incident made Jacobs a valued witness in the investigation of her suspicious death (which the local investigation determined was self-inflicted) – but also enveloped him in a cloud of suspicion.
“I’ve got so many people hating on me and everything about this case,” Jacobs said in the weeks before the crash. “I’m trying to get my name cleared on this thing. I mean, I’m trying not to let people get to me. I feel like they need some type of explanation. I understand that, you know, trying to figure out what’s going on.”
According to the report, emergency responders pronounced Jacobs dead at the scene. A detailed external examination conducted by the medical examiner noted extensive blunt force injuries, including abrasions on the face, head, chest, and extremities; a six-inch bruise on the back; and multiple lacerations.
The probable cause of death was listed as multiple blunt force injuries.
***
***
Notably, no autopsy was performed in the case – and toxicology screening (.pdf) was limited to ethanol. Because the death was deemed a clear-cut traffic fatality with no immediate signs of foul play, suicide or overdose, the scope of the postmortem testing was limited. In such cases, it’s common for toxicology to screen only for alcohol unless there is a specific reason to expand the panel. However, without an autopsy or broader toxicology panel, questions about other potential impairing substances remain unanswered.
Jacobs’ medical history included Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but no other significant conditions were listed. The only item of value noted in the report was a gold necklace he was wearing.
While the report attributes the death to a straightforward vehicular accident, the absence of a full autopsy and limited toxicological testing may raise questions for those seeking further answers. The medical examiner’s office classified the case as a non-criminal, external examination only and closed the case with a determination of accidental death.
Count on FITSNews to keep our audience apprised of the latest developments tied to the Mica Francis Miller story…
***
THE REPORT…
(N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office)
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Callie Lyons is a relentless investigative journalist, researcher, and author known for exposing hard truths with heart and precision. As a journalist for FITSNews, she dives into high-profile and murky cases—like that of Mica Francis Miller— with fearless resolve and a sharp eye for detail, whether it’s tracking white-collar crime, uncovering religious abuse, or examining the often-bizarre behavior of those who believe they’re above the law.
Callie made waves with her groundbreaking 2007 book Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal, the first to reveal the dangers of forever chemicals, a story that helped inspire the film Dark Waters and influenced global scientific dialogue. Her work has appeared in numerous documentaries, including Toxic Soup, National Geographic’s Parched: Toxic Waters, and more recently Citizen Sleuth, which examines the complexities of true crime podcasting.
Whether she’s navigating environmental disasters or the darker corners of society, Lyons operates with one guiding belief: “Truth never damages a cause that is just.”
***
WANNA SOUND OFF?
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
