Mica Miller’s mental health struggles, including failed suicide attempt and THC dependency, revealed in new report
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Mica Miller’s body was discovered “prone” and “submerged” 100 feet from several shell casings found along a Robeson County riverbank where the 30-year-old killed herself in late April, a newly issued medical examiner’s report reveals.
And two days before Mica fatally shot herself at Lumber River State Park on April 27, she had been prescribed anti-anxiety medication — the latest in a series of treatments to combat mental health problems that included suicidal ideations and bipolar disorder, according to a preliminary summary conducted by the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Three casings from a Sig Sauer 9 mm were recovered along the riverbank: Two live and one spent, the medical examiner’s office said. The gun itself was pulled from the water by magnet about five feet from the shore.
The report, which is not based on an autopsy, said a post-mortem blood test performed the day after her death did not show any drugs or alcohol in her system. There were also no signs of a “physical struggle” near where authorities said the wife of Myrtle Beach pastor John-Paul Miller took her life.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on Monday. When contacted by News13 on Tuesday, John-Paul on Tuesday acknowledged the report but did not comment.
Mica’s family members — including her father Michael and sister Sierra Francis — have disputed officials claims that she killed herself.
Robeson County Medical Examiner Jennifer Altman described Mica’s cause of death as “shot self with handgun.”
“Why didn’t they do a complete toxicology test? Why didn’t they realize that she had bruises on her hands and defensive wounds and also a bruise on her other arm?” Michael Francis told NewsNation last month.
Entry and exit wounds were marked just above her ears — 4 1/2 inches from the middle of her head.
Mica also had seven tattoos — including the name “John Paul Miller” on the right side of her lower chest.
John-Paul is the founder and senior pastor at Solid Rock Church in The Market Common. News13 began investigating circumstances around Mica’s death shortly after her suicide as claims of domestic abuse surfaced — including John-Paul’s admissions of placing several GPS trackers on her vehicles and leaking an explicit photo of her online.
John-Paul has not been charged with any crime. Mica served him with divorce papers on April 25.
Timeline: What’s happened so far in the death of Myrtle Beach woman Mica Miller
On the day she died, Miller’s relatives were unable to contact her via photo calls or text messages. She was last seen alive at 1:33 p.m. in Mullins. A kayaker reported to authorities exactly three hours later that he found a body in the river that was determined to be Mica.
The report also said medical records showed that Mica was hospitalized twice between 2022 and 2024 — the first from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5, 2022, on “suicidal precautions for bipolar 1” and “recurrent manic episode” along with THC dependency and a “dependent personality disorder.”
Mica was admitted again from Feb. 7-12 of this year by a therapist. Mica also was using Delta 8 gummies at the time, according the report said.
Meanwhile, John-Paul Miller has been battling Mica’s family in court over rights to her estate.
Less than a week after her death, Mica’s sister, Sierra Francis, filed court papers seeking to become the special administrator over her estate.
On June 5, the sides struck a deal that will turn some of Mica’s personal belongings over to Conway attorney Regina Ward, who was working with Mica to finalize her divorce.
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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.
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Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here.
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