On April 27, 2024, Mica Acacia Francis (also known as Mica Miller), a 30-year-old woman from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was found dead from a gunshot wound in a state park near Lumberton, North Carolina.
Shortly before her death, Mica had moved out of her marital home and was in the process of divorcing her husband, John Paul Miller, the pastor of Solid Rock at Market Common church in Myrtle Beach. Her death gained national attention after her estranged husband delivered a startling sermon to his congregation the following day, describing her passing as “self-induced” and emphasizing her alleged mental health struggles—a claim disputed by her family, who insist she had no history of such issues before marrying Miller. When the sermon and announcement were posted online, public outcry grew, sparking calls for a thorough investigation and shedding light on troubling details surrounding her death.
In the years leading up to her death, Mica was reportedly subjected to coercive control by her husband, Pastor John-Paul Miller, according to a detailed account of incidents released by her family.
Document released by the Law Firm of Regina B Ward, LLC during press conference on June 5, 2024 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Included in doc is list of alleged incidents committed by John Paul Miller against Mica Francis and a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee requesting the Coercive Control Bill to be renamed Mica’s Law.
Please note: there are descriptions of violence (physical, sexual, and emotional) in the list of alleged incidents.
Since Mica’s death, John-Paul (JP) Miller has had multiple run-ins with local and federal authorities. On November 1, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant on the pastor’s home in which they carried out various pieces of evidence including electronics, boxes and more. According to sources, the alleged crime being investigated is “interstate domestic violence.” Five days after the raid, Miller was once again in the spotlight when he was arrested by the Myrtle Beach Police Department for 3rd degree assault and battery.
In January 2025, Miller began filing a series of civil suits alleging defamation on the part of the protestors who gather outside the church each Sunday to demand Justice for Mica. As of March 2025, most of his lawsuits have been dropped or dismissed, and three protesters have active counterclaims against him.
JP Miller has also been accused on sexual assault in two separate lawsuits filed by Jane Doe No. 1 & Jane Doe. No. 2 alongside his father, Wayne Miller, and both their churches. It is important to note that JP Miller has formally denied any and all allegations of abuse made against him thus far. However, these accusations are the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and investigations.
A LUNASHARK Premium article written by Sam Berlin provides an overview of the circumstances surrounding the death of Mica Miller in South Carolina on April 27, and the subsequent investigation. The news of her death gained significant attention online after her estranged husband, Pastor John-Paul (JP) Miller, announced it after preaching his sermon. Authorities officially ruled Mica’s death a suicide; she was found with a gunshot wound in Lumber River State Park in North Carolina.
Myrtle Beach SC pastor JP Miller and his father Wayne Miller accused in new lawsuit of sexual abuse targeting minors 10 months after Mica Miller was found dead.
In True Sunlight Podcast episode 80, we introduced some of the 911 calls and/or law enforcement reports made regarding JP Miller and Solid Rock church after Mica Francis’ death on April 27, 2024.
And there are ALOT.
Myrtle Beach pastor JP Miller, under FBI investigation after his wife Mica’s 2024 death, faces a second lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of a minor in 1999–2001.
The Luna Shark Team has put together a timeline of the Mica Francis case.
As new information is uncovered, the timeline of events will be updated as information is published.
View the various case documents related to Mica Francis’s life and death and other people in the case’s orbit.
Mica Francis’ Attorney Regina Ward held a press conference to discuss Mica’s life and what her family believes should reinvigorate efforts to enact protections against coercive control in South Carolina in a bill proposed to be “Mica’s Law”.
NewsNation’s Rich McHugh sat down with JP Miller for an exclusive interview, delving into the months leading up to Mica Miller’s death and the public speculation that followed.
Learn More About Coercive Control
Mandy Matney and Laura Richards worked to bring awareness to coercive control, talking about how deadling coercive control can be, how to help a family member or friend suffering from coercive control, and what prevention steps can be taken in episodes of Cup of Justice and Crime Analyst.
Mandy was joined by coercive control expert, Laura Richards, on Cup of Justice episode 86.
Mandy also joined Laura Richards on her podcast, Crime Analyst, for a 2-part crossover episode to continue the conversation around coercive control.
Listen to Crime Analyst episodes #200 & 201 to hear that important discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is coercive control, exactly?
According to Laura, over half of victims of coercive control do not realize that they are being abused. So, it is important to everyone to understand and recognize coercive control behaviors.
Coercive control is essentially a power imbalance with one person holding all the power over another through manipulation and abuse. Signs of coercive control include (but are not limited to): isolation, intimidation, all forms of abuse, gaslighting, strict rules & regulations, and stalking. For more information on signs of coercive control, Luna Shark recommends visiting Laura’s resource page on coercive control linked below.
As a leading expert in coercive control, Laura provides a deep and thorough explanation of coercive control on her resources page.
What is Laura Richard's DASH Model I heard about on the podcast?
The DASH model is a tool to “focus on keeping victims and their children safe and ensuring perpetrators are proactively identified and managed.” – Dash Risk Checklist Website
What do I do if I think I'm in a coercive control relationship? Or someone I know might be in a coercive control relationship?
If you think you are a victim of coercive control, Laura Richards created a victim-centered DASH risk checklist to help validate your concerns. Please see the link below. If you have answered yes on many questions, please seek out assistance from the police and other support organizations such as the National Domestic Abuse Hotline. You can also call them at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
If you think someone you know might be a victim of coercive control, it is important to be supportive and non-judgmental. Encourage them to seek out assistance from the police or professional support. You can provide them a copy of the V-Dash risk checklist or help them create a safety plan. Remember, you cannot save them, but you can be a solid foundation of support for them.
How can I contact my elected officials if my state does not have a coercive control law?
Now that you know who to contact, what do you write? The Community Tool Box has a great how-to section on writing letters to elected officials. Here is a quick overview of what a letter should contain:
- Open the letter in an official manner.
- Explain the purpose for your letter.
- Summarize your understanding of the issue/decision being considered & your position on the issue.
- Identify others who may be affected by this decision.
- If you have written a letter that opposes some action, offer an alternative.
- Close and sign your letter.
Not sure how to start your letter, don’t worry! The Community Tool Box includes some examples to get you started.
JP Miller's Legal Problems
JP Miller has faced significant legal troubles in the months following Mica’s death, including lawsuits from two Jane Does alleging sexual assault and countersuits from multiple Justice for Mica protesters.
Below includes links to our published court filings.
