The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the home of South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller, who is accused of abusing his wife before she took her life last April.
The FBI was at Miller’s home on Friday “for court-authorized law enforcement activity,” FBI spokesperson Kevin Wheeler told The Roys Report (TRR). Wheeler added, “As this is an ongoing matter, I cannot provide additional details.”
Miller, who serves as pastor at Solid Rock Church at Market Common in Myrtle Beach is tied to an investigation into the controversial death of his wife, Mica Miller.
His wife’s death garnered national attention, after she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was found in a vehicle at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina.
Mica Miller’s family alleged her husband abused her, and that Mica feared for her life. Additionally, the couple had initiated divorce proceedings shortly before her death.
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It’s unclear if the FBI’s search was related to Mica Miller’s death.
Neighbors told WMBF News that FBI agents searched the house for several hours Friday afternoon. The FBI left around 6 p.m.
“It‘s just one of those things that you don’t think would ever happen where you live,” a neighbor of Miller told WMBF News.
The neighbor said he saw agents go in and out of the house, carrying evidence bags, WMBF News reported.
News13 confirmed this, stating that around two dozen agents searched the house while wearing uniforms that said, “Evidence Response Team.” The agents took several boxes from the house.
Neighbor Dennis Blair told News13 he witnessed when the FBI first entered Miller’s house.
“I came back outside and saw cop cars everywhere. Officers in the front yard with guns drawn, got a little bit nervous,” Blair said. “Then I heard the bullhorn go off, saying, ‘This is the FBI, we have your house surrounded. Come out with your hands up. We’re here to execute a warrant.’ At that point, I got a little nervous and they yelled at me to grab my dog and go back into the house.”
Police from the Horry County Sheriff’s Office were also present at Miller’s home on Friday to assist the FBI, a spokesperson confirmed to The Sun News.
Miller’s lawyer says FBI is “fishing” with search
Miller was not at home during the search, according to family friend Alicia Young.
Young told Fox News Digital that Miller had left the house just minutes before the FBI arrived. Agents later found him at Starbucks and served him the search warrant there, she said.
“He was not allowed to go to his house while they were there, and he is in their custody for questioning,” she said.
Miller’s house is currently owned by Solid Rock Ministries, according to Horry County property records.
Miller’s lawyer, Russell Long, told the Post and Courier that he has no details regarding why the FBI conducted the search.
“There was no affidavit attached to the search warrant; therefore, I have no idea what it’s in relation to,” Long said.
Long added that he felt like the FBI was “fishing.”
Previously, local law enforcement reached out to the FBI for help with Mica Miller’s case, TRR reported. However, police told PEOPLE in May that the FBI was conducting a “parallel investigation” that was not connected to Mica’s death.
TRR reached out to Long for further comment but did not hear back prior to publication.
Protesters continue to urge #JusticeforMica
While the FBI searched Miller’s home, around 20 protesters gathered near the house, the Post and Courier reported.
Protestors wore purple shirts that read “#justiceformica shirts while rallying for investigators to dig deeper into Mica Miller’s death.
Protestors told the news outlet that the FBI’s search is a significant development.
“It will be worth every bit of everything if we get justice for Mica in the end,” protestor Sandra Caron told the Post and Courier. “Justice for Mica is all it’s about.”
Protestors have been rallying for months outside of John-Paul Miller’s church, Solid Rock. In early July, one church member faced assault charges after using a sprinkler to spray protestors outside the building, TRR reported.
Later that month, Miller reached a legal settlement with his wife’s family regarding her death. Attorneys for both parties said the settlement keeps the family from pursuing a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Miller. They also called for a stop to the protests.
Regina Ward, the attorney representing Mica Miller’s family, said “We want to put this behind us and move on to the next chapter that matters. When we say that we’ve gotten justice for Mica as a result of this settlement, it is true.”
The circumstances surrounding Mica Miller’s death
Mica Miller’s death first splashed across headlines last spring when the day after her death, John-Paul Miller preached a normal sermon at Solid Rock. He didn’t mention her death until the end of service. He then claimed Mica had repeatedly struggled with suicidal thoughts.
Shortly after this, Mica Miller’s family members alleged that John-Paul had been abusive to his wife, and that she feared for her life, according to court documents.
In early May, local authorities ruled Mica’s much-disputed death a suicide based on surveillance footage, interviews, physical evidence, and the examination of the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office.
Further controversial details about John-Paul Miller have surfaced online.
In an email apology acquired by NewsNation, Miller admitted to posting a topless photo of Mica weeks before she died.
Additionally, Miller’s first wife, Alison, claimed the pastor engaged in sex acts with minors younger than 16 and had an addiction to prostitutes, according to a 2017 affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail.
Mica Miller also accused the pastor of grooming her for years and stealing her car in several court documents, TRR reported.
In a previous statement, Long, the pastor’s attorney, rejected these claims.
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering religion news for The Roys Report, WORLD Magazine, and other publications.
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5 Responses
Anyone can cast a shadow of doubt and suspicion if it is their goal to do so even if there is no real proof. A question. A suggestion. A thought. Human nature loves a mystery, and humans love a fight, so this poor woman’s death can drag on in the news for years until the original angry mob gets distracted by some other mystery. The Media exists for this purpose. There’s money in madness and the longer you can keep the madness going, the more money can be made. I say let the poor woman rest in peace, and let God avenge her as he says he will if indeed she needs avenging. “Vengance is mine, saith the Lord”, but so is vindication. So get out of the way, people, and let God work.
Hardly a fishing expedition. No doubt new information came to light that persuaded a judge to issue a search warrant. “A search warrant shall be issued only upon the oral or written statement, including those conveyed or received by electronic communication, of any person under oath or affirmation which states facts sufficient to show probable cause that a crime has been or is being committed and which particularly describes a person, place or means of conveyance to be searched and things to be seized.” Sitting back and hoping God will take care of it doesn’t sound like a very good idea to me. Not in general, nor specifically in this case.
Marsha, I tend to agree with you on the consequences of accusations and the philosophy these days that it is the “seriousness of the charge” that justifies all sorts of actions. And the mere appearance and lawyer fees for a false accusation can really cause harm. However, giving the benefit of the doubt to the court, there must have been some evidence for the search. Regarding your last statement, trusting God to work thru a situation doesn’t mean we’re inactive. In fact, if you have a conviction or there is a biblical mandate, your obedience is an act of trusting God.
I thought this story would have legs.
We don’t know why the FBI searched is house. My guess is that it likely had nothing to do directly with his wife death. But, perhaps allegations of another crime that is within the jurisdiction of the FBI has come to light. Time will tell if he is charged or not.