Mica Miller's death was officially ruled a suicide, with the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determining that she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. This addresses the authorities' formal determination regarding how Mica Miller died, a case examined in the three-part Netflix documentary series, Death of the Pastor's Wife, released on 26 August 2026.
IBTimes UK has reviewed publicly available reporting on the North Carolina medical examiner's investigation report. The document explicitly states it is not an autopsy report.
For context, Mica filed for legal separation on 15 April 2024, and her estranged husband, John-Paul Miller, was served with the papers on 25 April. She was found dead two days later. John-Paul was the pastor of Solid Rock Church. He officiated her first wedding to Jeremy Deas in 2012, before they began an affair in 2015 and married in 2017.
Though the couple initially appeared devout, Mica's family and friends alleged that the relationship involved coercive control, manipulation and abuse.
Earlier on the day of her death, Mica purchased a handgun at Dick's Pawn Shop in Myrtle Beach. She subsequently travelled to a North Carolina state park and called 911.
'I'm about to kill myself, and I want my family to find me,' she stated, according to the released audio.
The medical examiner determined the manner of death was suicide. The investigation report documents an entrance wound on the right side of her head with a circular muzzle imprint, and an exit wound on the left.
Her family has challenged the ruling, arguing the scene was staged and demanding further investigation. IBTimes UK cannot independently verify these claims, so such allegations remain contested.
Police located her body lying face down in a river. Investigators found two spent shell casings and one live round on the riverbank, about 100 feet from where Mica's body was recovered. The official report noted no signs of a struggle.
Authorities removed the decedent from the water using a boat, bringing her to a muddy riverbank covered in heavy brush. The report described minute postmortem wounds as consistent with her retrieval from the surrounding briars.
Alongside the gunshot wound, the report recorded closed skull fractures and black eyes. Mica bore numerous tattoos, including John-Paul Miller's signature on her side.
The report also documented a yellow necklace. Online speculation alleged John-Paul wore a similar necklace later, but authorities have not identified it as evidence linking him.
Toxicology testing did not detect amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine metabolites, ethanol, gabapentin, pregabalin, or opioids.
The investigation report cited medical records documenting past diagnoses, including bipolar I disorder, recurrent manic episodes, dependent personality disorder, and tetrahydrocannabinol dependence. The records also noted two previous psychiatric hospitalisations and a prior suicide attempt.
The official suicide determination relied on the totality of the investigative evidence, rather than these historical diagnoses. The investigation concluded there was no concern for foul play. Mica's family, however, continues to dispute the official determination and call for further scrutiny of her death.
