Mica Miller did not appear to leave a will, leading to court battles between her immediate family and husband, and continuing a story that has drawn nationwide attention after the death of the 30-year-old.
Miller was found dead of a gunshot wound at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina in April, and authorities deemed her death a suicide. But her immediate family members turned to the court to represent her estate and gain her possessions, instead of her husband John-Paul Miller.
On Wednesday afternoon, June 5, a court proceeding was scheduled to be held in family court where a judge would review documents submitted by both parties.聽In the filing, the document names John-Paul Miller and Solid Rock Church at Market Common as the defendants.
An agreement was made between the attorneys of Mica Miller's sister and John-Paul Miller which led to a temporary consent order issued by the judge in the case. The order will allow Mica Miller鈥檚 family to have possession of her property the authorities had from the investigation of her death.聽
Family members of Mica Miller appeared alongside local attorney Regina Ward at a press conference after the proceeding.
鈥淩ight now, we are very satisfied and happy that [John-Paul Miller] has been advised by his attorney to allow us to get that property in our possession,鈥 Ward said.
The document states all possessions that were recovered by the Robeson County Sheriff鈥檚 Office will be handed over to Ward after the investigation concludes.
The order also issues restraining orders which prohibit John-Paul Miller and Francis from contacting one another other than through their attorneys, visiting each other's residences or places of employment, or threatening physical harm to each other.
Francis applied to be the special administrator of Mica's estate on May 3, and was appointed the role, the order states.
Ward urged lawmakers to revisit a bill, called the coercive control bill (House bill 3621, Senate bill 927), and to rename the legislation 鈥淢ica鈥檚 law鈥 because, Ward said, if it were enacted, it could have saved Mica Miller鈥檚 life.
In a letter Ward plans to send to South Carolina state legislators she outlines alleged abuse that Mica Miller wrote about in journals and compared it to protections that the coercive control bill would have.
If passed, the bill would charge those who exert coercive control over a victim with a felony. In the letter to legislators, Ward wrote 鈥淢ica鈥檚 list,鈥 which explained alleged abuses she wrote about in her diary that included stalking and tracking her whereabouts, isolating her from family and friends, monitoring her communications and more.
鈥淲e do not know if Mica took her life simply because she was manic or whether she possibly died as a way to escape the alleged abuse,鈥 the letter reads. 鈥淲hat we do know is that coercive control is a real form of abuse that was recognized by Evan Stark and, codified by other states, including Hawaii, California and Connecticut.鈥
A national story
Social media allegations have swirled in the aftermath of Mica Miller鈥檚 death, including much of the conversation surrounding John-Paul Miller, who served as the lead pastor of Solid Rock church at Market Common in Myrtle Beach, and speculations about what led to the couple鈥檚 separation.
There have been no criminal charges in connection with the death of Mica Miller.
But her death has grabbed the attention of internet sleuths and other social media personalities that have attempted to assess the case with a fine-tooth comb and post countless videos about events leading up to her death and the aftermath.
The FBI assisted in the initial death investigation, and it is not clear whether the agency is still investigating the case. It鈥檚 an FBI policy that the agency does not confirm or deny criminal investigations, an FBI Columbia spokesperson said.
Online records state a hearing is set in probate court July 29.
Days before her death, Mica Miller filed a separate support and maintenance request in Horry County family court to legally separate from John-Paul Miller.
Ward was representing Mica for the separation and said she believes there are questions surrounding her death.
鈥淚t鈥檚 questionable because you have a woman who is feeling relieved and a sense of freedom coming. The other thing about Mica is she was so ecstatic that she had found her passion in life. She was really impassioned about the school for the children in Africa. She would glow talking about it. She felt like she had come across what God intended for her life,鈥 said Ward, who is now representing Mica鈥檚 sister, Sierra Francis. 鈥淪he was very excited to have found her purpose in life, and had plans to fulfill that purpose and was very much looking forward to being freed from the bondage of John-Paul Miller and living her life鈥檚 purpose.鈥
After her death, the battle began regarding who should receive her belongings, which include her cell phone, clothing, her car and belongings inside the car.
John-Paul Miller made a legal request to receive the estate by applying to be the personal representative.
Francis filed a competing request to become special administrator over her sister鈥檚 estate, writing in an affidavit that Mica told her about abuse, being followed and fearing for her life.
South Carolina law states that when the deceased does not have a will or children, the surviving spouse will receive the entire estate.
The Francis family petitioned the court to receive the estate because of what Mica Miller told them about her relationship with John-Paul Miller, court records claim.
Ward said the battle over the estate is not so much about the value of Mica鈥檚 belongings. She had a car, jewelry and personal items like clothing and a cell phone, according to a postnuptial agreement made between Mica and John-Paul. The cell phone, Ward said, is what she鈥檚 most interested in. Ward said the Robeson County Sheriff鈥檚 Office currently has custody of Mica鈥檚 phone, purse and some other belongings.
鈥淐ell phones are usually quite personal,鈥 Ward said. 鈥淭here could be notes kept on there, history kept on there, obviously communications between her and other people, possibly John-Paul. So, obviously, looking into the things that may be on that cell phone may be helpful in answering additional questions. Things may be on there that the investigators looking into her death may not have seen as relevant to that situation, but those communications or other things on the phone may be relevant to another situation, which would be a potential civil suit against John-Paul and or the church.鈥
Tom Winslow, one of several attorneys representing John-Paul Miller, said John-Paul Miller filed to be the personal representative of the estate because it鈥檚 his duty as a spouse and it鈥檚 the procedure in South Carolina when there is no will.
To date, no note left by Mica Miller prior to her death has been found 鈥 the absence of which is another reason Ward and the Francis family are skeptical about the sheriff鈥檚 office鈥檚 ruling the death a suicide.
鈥淭he other thing is it is not credible to me that a woman who wrote so many journals and so many things so often would not take the time to write her family a note to explain, if she had done this, why she would have done it,鈥 Ward said. 鈥淲hy would you not leave a note?鈥
Winslow points to the 911 call Mica made, saying that many people don鈥檛 leave suicide notes.
鈥淲hat I would do or someone else would do is not for me to judge. I鈥檓 not in that situation,鈥 Winslow said.
Winslow said Mica Miller suffered from mental health issues for years. He also said he doesn鈥檛 think the absence of a will is surprising due to her young age.
鈥淭he situation you have here, unfortunately, is a young lady who had been undergoing years of mental illness, numerous hospitalizations,鈥 Winslow said. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e trying to do is apply logical reasoning to mental illness which is an illogical process. I can鈥檛 judge what she would or would not do, because I鈥檓 not her.鈥
Ward argues she saw no evidence of Mica Miller suffering from mental health issues.
鈥淪ome people will say 鈥榦h, well you know, she had that mental health problem.鈥 Please, no. That woman was as rational as you could be, in my opinion. My dealings with her and my staff鈥檚 dealings with her, never any indication of that,鈥 Ward said.
No autopsy was performed, Ward and Winslow confirmed, and Mica Miller鈥檚 body was cremated. Winslow said that was done because of the wishes of the family.
鈥淭he family signed off on a cremation. They wanted a cremation,鈥 Winslow said.
Ward, however, described John-Paul Miller using cremation as a bargaining tool with Mica鈥檚 family. Ward said John-Paul Miller originally told her he would not let the Francis family see Mica鈥檚 body unless they took down 鈥渁ll the bad things鈥 they posted about him. Ward said after she spoke with him, he decided to let the family see the body, but with a different condition instead.
鈥淲hat I was told later, of course, was that he still put a requirement that 鈥榦h yeah, you can see the body, but not unless the parents sign for the cremation certificate,鈥 Ward said.
When the family saw Mica鈥檚 body, Ward said there were signs that led to more questions regarding her cause of death, not closure.
Another question mark surrounding her death is why no autopsy was performed. Winslow said there was no autopsy because the family signed off on the cremation.
鈥淟ook, I wasn鈥檛 there. Anything I say would be hearsay. But that sounds like a story you heard, not any kind of facts or evidence that you could show me,鈥 Winslow said. 鈥淪ounds like the family is putting out their narrative on what they think to be maybe true or indicative of their position throughout this entire matter. One side of the story.鈥
That statement is indicative of the position Winslow is taking in regards to the battle over Mica鈥檚 estate and the online discourse surrounding Mica鈥檚 death. He鈥檚 not worried about talk on social media or past allegations against John-Paul Miller. His goal is to make his case by presenting facts in court, not in the court of public opinion, he said.
鈥淲hat we do in the court, in law, is we don鈥檛 react emotionally. We don鈥檛 respond to allegations. We don鈥檛 respond to text,鈥 Winslow said. 鈥淲e prepare our case with evidence. And so when the time comes, evidence will be presented. Text will not be presented. Stories will not be told, because that鈥檚 based on emotion. And everyone is entitled to emotion. With a tragic event like the loss of a 30-year-old, and Mica鈥檚 a sweet girl. Beautiful singing voice, tragic loss. But once again, in the court system, it is not our job to put out stories to rile up emotion. It鈥檚 our job to present facts that are legally admissible.鈥
There could be other court battles on the horizon, too. Ward said the family is considering civil suits against John-Paul Miller and possibly Solid Rock at Market Common.
Asked if Miller is considering bringing civil suits, Winslow said everything is on the table.
鈥淲hen anyone has been slandered, defamed, libeled, done wrong, they've lost a spouse wrongfully, you have to leave those doors open,鈥 Winslow said.
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