The FBI reportedly raided the home of John-Paul Miller on Friday afternoon, the pastor accused of driving his wife, Mica, to suicide after shockingly announcing to his congregation that she had died in that manner during a sermon one Sunday.
The federal authorities were seen at the residence on Coldwater Circle in the Azalea Lakes neighborhood in Horry County, South Carolina, on Friday afternoon, though the exact reason for their visit to the home remains unclear.
FBI spokesperson Kevin Wheeler told WBTW that the FBI was “conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity” at the home but didn’t specify what that meant.
About 25 FBI agents were seen entering the home, milling about as they investigated each room, all wearing uniforms that read “Evidence Response Team.” They were seen putting on gloves, bringing bags out of a truck to store evidence and getting ready to enter the residence.
Neighbors told local media that agents said they were there to conduct a search warrant at the home, noting also that Miller wasn’t there when they all arrived.
The home is owned officially by Solid Rock Ministries Inc. and was transferred from Miller’s name on Dec. 15, 2023. Controversy engulfed Miller and the Market Common church he led after Mica was found dead in late April at the Lumber River State Park in Robeson County.
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Her death was ruled a suicide, but the ensuing investigation sparked nationwide interest after allegations that she had been abused by her husband before her death.
Regina Ward, the attorney who had represented Mica’s family and estate during the legal proceedings that ensued months ago after John-Paul’s harrowing admission, said she was still investigating the incident and attempting to gather more information about why the authorities were at John-Paul’s home.
It was previously reported that 30-year-old Mica was seen on CCTV footage from a gas station shortly before her body was discovered at the state park with a single, allegedly self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
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That was on April 27 days earlier, she had served her husband divorce papers, it was reported. Mica’s family alleged that her death was “staged” to look like suicide and have claimed her behavior didn’t emulate that of a person considering taking their own life.
“I believe that it was all staged,” Michael Francis, Mica’s father, told NewsNation. “I believe that the whole thing was premeditated.” Other controversies have surrounded the incident, including admissions from the pastor during other sermons that he stayed with his wife’s body several times and even attempted to “raise her from the dead.”
Accusations emerged that Mica was abused by her husband and that he had groomed her from a young age, eventually taking her as his wife. Nothing has been proven yet.
As more evidence is uncovered, Mica’s family continues to push for a more thorough investigation into her death as they continue to allege that she didn’t take her own life she was murdered.