The FBI on Friday searched the home of South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller — who’d casually announced that his wife fatally shot herself during a church sermon — the latest twist in the shocking case.
Miller’s attorney, Russell Long, confirmed the search warrant to the Post and Dispatch.
When the newspaper asked him what authorities were searching for, Long called it a “fishing” expedition.
The pastor was not at home at the time of the search.
“There was no affidavit attached to the search warrant,” Long said.
“Therefore, I have no idea what it’s in relation to.”
Mica Miller, 30, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park on April 27 after she was reportedly heard crying for several minutes.
Her death has cast a shadow of suspicion on her husband, who is a pastor at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach.
A couple of days before her death, Mica served John-Paul with divorce papers.
Although Mica’s death was ruled a suicide by the Robeson County medical examiner, her family has since pleaded for cops to “deeply” investigate her demise amid allegations John-Paul, 45, had abused her.
Mica had contacted police a handful of times and made several allegations against her husband in the lead-up to her death.
She accused him of slashing her tires, installing a tracking device on her car, hospitalizing her against her will and “grooming” her when she was just 10 years old and he was an adult.
The two tied the knot in 2017.
John-Paul announced his wife’s death while delivering a sermon at his church.
“I got a call late last night, my wife has passed away. It was self-induced and it was up in North Carolina,” he said during his sermon.
But he has strenuously denied any allegations of grooming and abuse — and points out that he was hundreds of miles away on the day she killed herself.
He has not been accused of any crime.
But questions remain.
On Friday, a group of about 20 protesters gathered near the Miller’s home as the FBI executed its warrant.
Some of the protesters wore purple #justiceformica shirts, while another protestor held a poster that read “Your voice is powerful” and bearing Mica’s photo that read, “Your voice is powerful” over a photo of Mica smiling.
Authorities have not released documents related to Friday’s search, and the local FBI office did not return The Post’s phone call.
Attorneys for John-Paul did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
