Mica Miller contacted police several times in the months before her death

This article contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone else is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the National Crisis Hotline on 988 to find help near you.

(NewsNation) — New police reports from the Myrtle Beach Police Department reveal more information about the events that led to the death of South Carolina woman Mica Miller.

Miller’s death was ruled a suicide, but her friends and family spoke out, saying she had feared for her life before her death and suggesting her relationship with her estranged husband was abusive.

NewsNation used Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain police reports showing that Miller frequently contacted police in the months before her death.

According to a police report, Mica Miller and her husband John-Paul Miller had been separated since January 2023. She told police she had known her husband, 14 years her senior, since she was 10 and said he “groomed” her while she worked for him at Solid Rock Church until they married in 2017.

She also said her husband stole her car, she was hospitalized against her will and police found a tracking device in her car.

NewsNation confirmed via text message to John-Paul Miller that he was behind the tracker.

“I hired a private investigator to put tracking devices on her car to find out if she goes to a gun store (because she has been constantly trying to get a gun for the past few months),” he wrote. “I have never hurt her in any way in my life. Always.”

John-Paul Miller also contacted police at one point and said his wife had been harassing him on social media. Since he was not mentioned by name in the social media posts, there appeared to be no further action from police.

Tim Carter, a friend of Mica Miller, recounted a conversation he had with John-Paul Miller several years ago.

He said John-Paul Miller told him that Mica Miller had bought a gun and was in the backyard wondering if she bought it to shoot him. Carter responded that he didn’t know what was going on in the house that would lead to her shooting him.

But, Carter said, he wondered why that was even a question when there was nothing going on in the couple’s relationship.

“He was scared and wondering, ‘Do you think she bought it to shoot me,'” Carter said. “Why would that be a question if he didn’t treat her badly?”

In March, Mica Miller posted advice on Facebook for anyone struggling to leave an abusive relationship.

“You don’t have to stay in an abusive relationship, be it sexual or someone forcing you to use illegal drugs or psychological abuse or saying you’re not giving it your all when you know you are,” she said.

A close friend who wished to remain anonymous said Mica Miller was definitely struggling.

“She has been given three different numbers in the last three months to ensure that (John-Paul) does not get her phone number and cannot contact her,” the friend said. “She wrote me a message saying, “Thank you for your years of gentle warnings about JP or my relationship with JP.”

The friend said Mica Miller sensed they knew she wasn’t ready to get out yet, but they were glad she finally did.

In a statement, another friend, Angela Brian Clark, said the story had many layers and that Mica Miller had shared “terrible” things with her.

“You don’t have to physically pull a trigger to be responsible for someone’s death. You can minimize your own behavior by preying on the weaknesses of others,” she said.

John-Paul Miller issued a press release through his attorney denouncing “rumors” and denying any report of spousal abuse.

“Following the untimely death of Mica Miller, unfounded rumors and false accusations began circulating on social media and various media outlets suggesting that Pastor Miller was involved in her death. This created a huge stir and caused local and national media to spread these falsehoods on a gigantic scale. “Our client denies any report suggesting that he ever abused his wife,” the statement reads in part.

On Facebook, Mica’s father said it wasn’t over yet and the floodgates were opening, ending his post with the hashtag #JusticeForMica.

Read some police reports here: