What happened to Mica Miller has become one of the biggest questions surrounding Netflix’s latest true-crime docuseries, Death of the Pastor’s Wife. The 30-year-old worship leader from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina on April 27, 2024. Authorities determined that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and officially ruled her death a suicide.

But nearly two and a half years later, the Mica Miller death remains under intense public scrutiny because of what she had reported about her marriage before she died and a subsequent federal criminal case against her estranged husband, pastor John-Paul “JP” Miller. Netflix revived that attention on August 26, 2026, with a three-part documentary examining her life, marriage and final months.

What Happened to Mica Miller on April 27, 2024?

The official timeline begins in Myrtle Beach on the morning of April 27. Surveillance evidence released by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office showed Mica Miller leaving her residence at around 11:38 AM. At approximately 12:12 PM, she entered a pawn shop in Myrtle Beach. Investigators said she purchased a firearm and ammunition and left the shop at around 12:34 PM.

Her vehicle was later recorded travelling through South Carolina before stopping at a convenience store in Mullins at around 1:27 PM. At 2:54 PM, the Robeson County emergency communications centre received a 911 call from a woman later identified as Miller. According to the sheriff’s office, she asked whether authorities could trace her phone because she intended to die by suicide and wanted her family to be able to locate her body. The call ended, and the dispatcher traced her location to Lumber River State Park. Deputies and park rangers were sent to search the area.

They found Miller’s black Honda Accord in the parking area. Inside the vehicle, investigators found a gun case, ammunition and receipts documenting the firearm purchase and her stop at the convenience store. A person fishing in the area later alerted authorities to belongings near the water, and emergency services subsequently received another call reporting a body in the river. Miller was found dead in the water. Investigators also recovered a firearm nearby whose serial number matched the gun case found in her vehicle.

When Did Mica Miller Die?

For readers searching When did Mica Miller Die, the confirmed date is April 27, 2024.

She was 30 years old.

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office announced in May 2024 that the death had been ruled a suicide following a review of surveillance footage, interviews, physical evidence and findings from the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office.

A later medical examiner’s report documented a single gunshot wound to the head.

Recent reporting on that report also noted that Miller was recovered face down in the river and that two spent shell casings and one live round were found roughly 100 feet away near the riverbank.

However, the examiner’s report said investigators found no signs of a physical struggle at the scene, and the official manner of death remained suicide.

Those details have nevertheless contributed to continuing questions from members of her family and people following the case.

Why Does Mica Miller’s Family Still Have Questions?

The controversy surrounding the Mica Miller death is not based simply on what happened at Lumber River State Park. It is also rooted in events that occurred before April 27. Netflix says Miller had told police about a month before her death that she was “afraid for her life” and believed she was being subjected to stalking. The documentary centres much of its narrative on allegations of coercive control, harassment and abuse made by Miller, her relatives, friends and former church members. The series also says she served divorce papers on John Paul Miller two days before her death.

Miller had been trying to leave the marriage, according to Netflix, and the programme reconstructs those years using her journals, text messages, church footage, videos and interviews with people close to her. Those allegations and circumstances explain why her family has continued asking questions even though authorities have not changed the official suicide ruling.

Importantly, questioning that ruling is not the same as proving that another person caused her death.

What Is ‘Death of the Pastor’s Wife’ About?

Netflix released Death of the Pastor’s Wife on August 26, 2026. The documentary consists of three episodes:

1. A Note From Your Pastor
2. Helpmate
3. What Happened to Mica

The series traces Miller’s upbringing in the church, her relationship with JP, their deteriorating marriage and the circumstances surrounding her death. Netflix says the filmmakers were given access to extensive personal archives with the permission of her family. These included videos spanning years of Miller’s life as well as personal journals. The production also uses voice-recreation technology to read portions of her journals in an approximation of her voice, a creative choice Netflix openly discloses.

The documentary includes interviews with Miller’s siblings, friends, former Solid Rock Church members, a biblical counsellor, her divorce attorney and others familiar with the events.

JP declined to participate in the series.

What Is John Paul Miller Accused Of?

The biggest legal development since the death came in December 2025. A federal grand jury in South Carolina indicted John Paul Miller, then 46, on two counts:

• Cyberstalking
• Making false statements to federal investigators The federal case is separate from the official determination of how his wife died. According to the US Department of Justice, prosecutors allege that from November 2022 until Mica’s death in April 2024, JP repeatedly harassed his estranged wife. The indictment alleges that he:
• Sent unwanted and harassing communications
• Posted a nude image of her online without consent
• Caused tracking devices to be placed on vehicles she used
• Had her placed under surveillance
• Interfered with her finances and daily activities
• Damaged her vehicle tyres 
• Federal prosecutors further allege that he contacted her more than 50 times on one day. The second charge alleges he made false statements during the federal investigation, including statements concerning the damage to Miller’s tyres and the frequency with which he contacted her. These are allegations contained in an indictment and have not been proven at trial.

Has JP Miller Been Charged With Mica Miller’s Death?

No. This is the most important legal distinction in the story. JP has not been charged with killing his wife or otherwise causing her death. His current federal prosecution concerns the alleged conduct leading up to her death and his alleged statements to investigators. He pleaded not guilty to both federal charges on January 12, 2026. Court records confirm the not-guilty plea.

He was released on bond subject to restrictions, including location monitoring and limits on contact with witnesses and members of Miller’s family. Netflix reported in late August that his federal trial had been pushed to the October 2026 court term following another continuance. He remains presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Why the Case Returned to the Spotlight in 2026

The case attracted national attention in the United States almost immediately in 2024. Netflix has now taken the story to a much larger global audience. Its documentary does not announce a new official cause of death. Instead, it explores the allegations surrounding Miller’s marriage, what she told friends, relatives and authorities, and why her family says the official ruling did not answer every question they had. That distinction is important for true-crime coverage. A documentary can raise questions and present evidence or testimony that deserves scrutiny without overturning the findings of law enforcement or a medical examiner.

As of September 2026, Mica Miller’s death remains officially classified as suicide.