Pastor's wife Mica Miller's cause of death revealed: Medical examiner confirms 30-year-old died from self-inflicted gunshot wound

Pastor's wife Mica Miller died from a 'self-inflicted gunshot wound' days after filing for divorce from her husband John-Paul Miller.   

Mica, 30, was found dead at Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina, on April 27, weeks after she shared a video speaking about abuse within marriage as claims emerge she was being harassed and was 'afraid for her life'. 

In the days after her death, her friends and family held a rally calling for 'justice for Mica' outside the Solid Rock Church where Pastor Miller, 44, works. 

The pastor stunned his congregants last week when, after a service in which he had laughed and appeared entirely at ease, he announced that his wife had died and that her death was 'self-induced.'

On Monday, Robeson County Medical Examiner Dr. Richard Johnson told ABC: 'Based on the nature of the wound, that it is consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. And it was not in the back of the head, as it has been speculated.' 

Weeks before she died Mica posted an emotional video in which she spoke of abuse within marriage and offered support to 'ANYONE struggling with leaving a dangerous situation because they think God will be 'mad' at them.'

She said: 'Today my heart's a little heavy. I've had lots of women that have reached out to me about situations of abuse, and I just want to tell you what a lot of people have told me lately, because I think I forgot.

'But you are the bride of Christ before anybody else's, male or female, it doesn't matter what gender you are, abuse is abuse.'

On Monday, before her cause of death was announced, ABC reported that Mica had filed police reports against a man - whose name was redacted in the reports - in March accusing him of harassing her. 

She had told officers that she was 'afraid for her life', had found a tracking device on her car and had her tires repeatedly deflated. 

After her death, Myrtle Beach pastor Miller stunned his congregation at Solid Rock at Market Common Church in South Carolina when announced that his wife had died and that her death was 'self-induced.'

He then told worshippers that he would be taking 'a little break' and to leave the church without discussing what he had just told them.

In the days since Mica's death on April 27, her family had pushed back at her husband's explanation of it as suicide. 

Speaking to DailyMail.com last week, Mica's sister Sierra Brown, 28, said that the family wasn't making any statements until the investigation was complete but pointed out: 'The one thing I would say is that he has said it was an official suicide, that is not the case. There's still an open investigation.'

Mica was found with a fatal gunshot wound in Lumbee River State Park, North Carolina, in a death that is under investigation by Robeson County Sheriff's department. 

Mica's death came just 48 hours after her husband, from whom she had been separated for one month, was served with divorce papers.

Court records hint at the tumult within the marriage with Mica first filing for divorce back in October 2023 before withdrawing the filing February 12.

Later that same month Miller filed against his wife for Separate Support and Maintenance in a motion withdrawn March 11.

But on April 15, just 12 days before she was found dead, Mica filed once more and, according to friends, also sought a no contact order against her husband.

Speaking March 22 Mica said: 'You don't have to stay in an abusive relationship. Whether that's sexual, whether that's somebody forcing you to take illegal drugs or alcohol abuse, or physical abuse, psychological abuse, making you think that this is all your fault or that you're a bad mom or a bad husband or you're not giving it your all when you know you are.

'God hates divorce, but why? According to everybody that I've asked and the scriptures I've seen it's because it hurts people. But does abuse hurt people. How do you think God feels about that?'

Mica met Miller, 14 years her senior, when she was just 14 years old and a member of his church youth group.

Addressing his congregation Miller stated that Mica, stepmother to his five children, 'was mentally unwell.'

But friends have taken to social media to refute this statement with one posting on X: 'Mica is a close friend of mine, she 100% would not have committed suicide. She was excited to start a new life no longer living in fear of him & was finally on her way out.'

In Mica's obituary penned by Miller, who has a criminal record including multiple counts of aggravated assault and battery to which he pleaded guilty, makes no mention of the fact that the couple had separated.

Instead, he described her as a 'great stepmother, and an amazing wife and helpmate', and portrayed her as his biggest cheerleader.

Kenn Young, Mica's friend, is among those searching for answers over what happened.

'This has to be at least looked into deeply. There's got to be some accountability here,' he told WPDE. 'Because yeah, a tragic life was lost, and it's not just as simple as mental health issues.'

Miller's sisters have also alluded to questions around her death, making posts with the caption '#JusticeforMica.'

'There is a lot of talk already going on so I want to set the record straight. Our sister Mica Miller passed away yesterday,' Miller's sister Sierra Francis wrote. 

'Please do not listen to false stories being shared about her. Mica was a God-fearing, joyful, loving woman.

'We know that so many of you feel this gut-wrenching loss with us. The fight is not over.'

Mica originally hails from Wichita, Kansas, as one of five children, according to her obituary.

Court filings indicate she had served her husband with divorce papers just weeks before her death.

The pastor's obituary describes her as, 'energetic, affirming, adventurous, faithful, loving, giving, forgiving, talented, joyous, creative, assertive, bold, determined, authoritative, passionate, hardworking, a risk taker, and so much more.' 

In an interview with ABC15, Mica's husband reiterated that his wife had taken her own life.

'She had struggled with suicide before,' he said. '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.' 

He added she was 'probably the greatest wife anyone could ask for' and described nights spent talking to each other for hours.