JP Miller And Wyane Miller Accused Of Sexual Abuse And Targeting Children – Plus We’re In Hotlanta With Hulu
Happy Sunday!
We are back on the road this week but for a much more exciting reason than a federal court sentencing. We are in Atlanta helping with final preparations for the ‘Murdaugh’ Hulu series!!!
And specifically, I’m helping the actress portraying me in the show to get a feel for my experiences, motivations, and well, my feelings when I was reporting on the Murdaugh matters from 2019 through 2023.
And while we didn’t have to give our phones to a grumpy US Marshal like at federal court, one similarity remains… there is a media embargo on sharing certain details… like the name of this tremendously courageous, talented, recognizable (seriously, like every where we went), beautiful and kind-hearted dynamo of the silver and small screen. Hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate together with a watch party from her catalog of wildly hilarious early work, hugely successful franchises, or more recent dive into seriously relevant and high-impact drama.
(Any guesses yet…? Email theories to [email protected] and we’ll send merch for correct predictions when we’re able to announce)
Without revealing too many production specifics, I do want to share how it feels to be part of this scripted project. Last night at dinner, Showrunner Michael D. Fuller thanked me for our reporting, for the accuracy, for the sensitivity to victims, for our special kind of journalism that built Murdaugh Murders Podcast into a #1 global sensation with over 9 million regular listeners around the globe.
That comment was uniquely validating because, as I’m not shy about sharing, it was not easy to bring each podcast episode to your ears. At the beginning, we fought incompetence and misogyny at the packet; in the thick of it, we fought jealousy and spite elsewhere; throughout it all we fought internal feelings of imposter syndrome and overwhelming dread that truly violent murderers were on the loose; and to this day we fight back against a system that doesn’t want the truths exposed.
The reporting on MMP (And COJ) and its subsequent rise to international acclaim is unique in that we did not have a giant company paying us or manager-made deadlines to follow. Each episode was produced in real time, from our kitchen table with just our skills in journalism, the best equipment we could afford at the time, and each of you all supporting us each step of the way.
This project does not happen without you the listeners who later became members in this flourishing Premium community. Thank you for supporting our mission with your kind words, your financial support, your belief that our mission is worthy of your time and attention, your hugs when I see you out in public and your presence holding up the banner of justice for all victims we give voice to.
This project does not happen without Blood On Their Hands, a book that I wrote with Carolyn Murnick, as it is also being used by the writers and actors as a reference for filling in emotional and other key background details within the script.
This project does not happen without Liz, EB, Mark Tinsley, and others who have shared their impressions or knowledge from that time with the team so that the series is accurate where it counts.
This project does not happen without David, who gets far too little sleep ensuring that all the operations of LUNASHARK are moving smoothly so that each episode publishes on time with the best quality possible; securing funding so that we’re making enough money to keep the lights on; finding the right people on the team and that each gets paid on time; verifying contracts we review are mutually beneficial (including the Unscripted projects we passed on and this Scripted project we brought to life); growing the company when possible and contracting when necessary; and for this project answering a myriad of questions about what happened when and where it’s referenced in episodes or helping the production design team find the exact makes and models of props to breathe authenticity into the scripted series.
This project does not happen without our team members Ali, Beth, Sam, Kate, Eric Alan, Erin, Jessie, Des and others we brought on to help us manage the chaos in those Murdaugh reporting years. Each of our collaborators has been instrumental in building our following, ensuring the reporting is built on an unimpeachable factual foundation so we can publish accurate content for listeners, viewers and members across the globe.
This project does not happen without one of our first advertisers and dearest friends Jim Bannon from The Bannon Law Group, who is helping to ensure that the SC legal processes are accurately depicted.
This project does not happen without the hundreds of wildly talented cast and crew members who are signing up for months of grueling schedules, early call times and a monumental task we’ve entrusted to them: to amplify the victims’ stories, to get those stories straight and to expose the emotional truths beyond just the facts so many more millions of people know the good, the bad and the ugly behind the headlines read around the world.
The list goes on and we’ll talk more about it on the shows coming soon. All that said, I am truly honored to have you in our corner and I’m excited to share more details as I’m able…
And also… I’m thankful for our adorable dogs who keep us rolling because comic relief and puppy cuddles have been a saving grace throughout it all.
On Cup of Justice #119, Liz, Eric and I talked about our trip to Charleston for yet another federal sentencing hearing of a rich South Carolina attorney. This time it was for Hilton Head attorney Peter Strauss, whose license to practice is on interim suspension… as of Monday, February 24, 2025…. Strauss pleaded guilty in fall 2023 to a single count of removal of property to prevent seizure to help his client — a man who later pleaded guilty in a billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. Also on the show, we discussed the latest decision in Buster Murdaugh’s defamation case might mean for the investigation into Stephen Smith’s death. AND… according to court documents, JP Miller and a TikToker tried to negotiate a deal with Melissa Mancari, the paralegal JP is suing in a $6 million defamation case, to testify as a witness in his cases against the protesters.
Why did the judge say this didn’t set off alarm bells for him? And what can protesters do to protect themselves in court?
On True Sunlight #89, Liz and I broke major news this past Tuesday with the announcement that Myrtle Beach pastor JP Miller has been accused of raping a 15-year-old girl at his father’s church, Cathedral Baptist Church (formerly All Nations Church), in 1998 and again sexually assaulting her in 2023. Plus, we were so appreciative to sit for an interview with Rock Hill attorney Randy Hood of McGowan, Hood, Felder and Phillips law firm, who is representing Jane, to learn more about Jane’s case and what the world of litigating institutional child sexual abuse looks like. On Tuesday, we also broke the very important news that attorney Mark Tinsley from the Murdaugh Murders trial — aka Zero Dark Tinsley and Tiger Tinsley — is also representing Jane in her case against the Millers. Also on the show, JP Miller appeared in Magistrate Court on Wednesday for a hearing related to seven of his cases against protesters and … well, he did a terrible job, as expected…
On Girl Talk #22, Liz and I discuss the true crime docuseries Apple Cider Vinegar, focusing on themes of deception and the influencer culture. We explored the series’ portrayal of a scammer who fakes cancer, drawing parallels to Inventing Anna and highlighting the loneliness often found in those who seek online fame. Then we shifted the conversation to the pressures of social media, including parasocial relationships with followers and the toxicity encountered online, particularly the experience of being trolled.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for February’s Pesky Picks recording – stay tuned for the episode next week and we’ll post the March Pesky Pick next week too. If you want to join the recording this month, email [email protected] so we can include you!
Stay tuned… because we are just getting started…
As always, your support is immensely appreciated and keeps us motivated to expose the truth wherever it leads, give voice to victims and get the story straight.
Stay Tuned, Stay Pesky, and Stay In The Sunlight…
– Mandy
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