Mica Miller 'Brainwashed' By Husband: Attorney

Mica Miller was "brainwashed" by her husband, according to her sister's attorney, Regina Ward.

Miller was found dead on April 27 in North Carolina's Lumber River State Park. Medical examiners concluded that the 30-year-old had died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but her friends and family have rejected the idea that she took her own life. Investigators said her estranged husband, Jean-Paul Miller, was "not in North Carolina on the night before and the day of" the woman's death.

Mica and John-Paul, a pastor in South Carolina, were in the process of getting divorced when she died.

During an interview with NewsNation on Thursday, Ward said that Jean-Paul, "abused [Mica] in every possible way that there is."

Mica Miller's friends doubt it was suicide
The wife of a South Carolina pastor was reportedly found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Friends say they don't believe she took her own life. Mica Miller/Facebook

The attorney said Mica Miller was abused "not only emotionally, financially, he abused her religiously."

Ward said she believes Jean-Paul Miller denied his wife access to money, her phone, and her vehicle in an attempt to gain control over her.

"I believe he had her convinced all the way" and that "he used every tactic and tool that he could." Ward said she had "mounds of paperwork" to suggest this.

"[Jean-Paul] went after everything that meant anything to this young woman."

Ward also said that the pastor used his church to exert control over his wife, saying that he would attack her relationship with God.

"My conversations with Mica whenever she was alive tell me that this woman was brainwashed by this man."

Newsweek contacted John-Paul Miller for a response to Ward's interview via an email to his church.

Myrtle Beach outlet Sun News reported that Mica Miller had filed for divorce in October but the case was dismissed in February. She filed for separation from John-Paul Miller in mid-April.

An affidavit provided by Mica Miller's sister, Sierra Francis, said that Mica told her family: "if I end up with a bullet in my head it, was not by me, it was JP.

On March 22, Mica Miller posted a video on Facebook offering advice for those who may be in an abusive relationship.

More than a week prior to posting the video, she told a police officer that she was "afraid for her life." NewsNation reported that police records show she contacted the police several times in the months before her death.

On Tuesday, after meeting with the family of Mica Miller to discuss the medical examiner's findings, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said in a media release, "While I know it's not what many people wanted to hear, the evidence is quite clear and compelling, and we are as saddened as anyone that this occurred."

"In the end, sadly, a tragic decision was made by Mica that ended her life," he added.

In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) on April 28, John-Paul Miller can be seen announcing the death of his wife to the congregation, saying: "I got a call late last night, my wife has passed away. It was self-induced."

He adds: "Y'all knew that she wasn't well mentally, and she needed medicine that was hard to get to her."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about Mica Miller's death? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com

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Joe Edwards is a Live News Reporter in Newsweek's London bureau. 

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