Netflix has released Death of the Pastor’s Wife, a three-part true crime series examining the death of Mica Miller and the subsequent federal charges against her husband, John-Paul ‘J.P.’ Miller. The series premiered on Wednesday, August 26, and follows a case that drew worldwide attention.
The documentary’s synopsis describes the case: “The perfect pastor’s wife. The charismatic husband, 15 years her senior. And, behind the worship team’s smiles, over a decade of coercive control — the abuse her family says the law was powerless to stop.”
Mica Miller’s Background and Marriage
Born in 1994, Mica moved to Wichita with her family at age 13 after her mother remarried. They joined Solid Rock Church, led by JP Miller, where Mica became the worship leader in charge of the choir at 16. Two years later, she married Jeremy Deas, with JP officiating. Three years into that marriage, she became JP’s assistant; he was married with five children at the time.
In the series, Mica’s sister Sierra Francis said JP began “texting Mica affectionately.” During a 2015 service, JP told attendees there had been a “moral failing in his marriage.” Mica’s brother, Nate Francis, said his sister told him she was having an affair with JP. Mica and JP married on November 7, 2017, when she was 23 and he was 38. Her family disapproved, with Sierra saying Mica “started having insecurities” and “wanted a breast augmentation.”
Health Struggles and Divorce Filings
After the surgery, Mica had a “horrible reaction” to the sedatives and “started spiraling.” Her sister Anna said Mica was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Mica filed for divorce in 2023, but it was dismissed the following year. While back in hospital, Mica said JP was using her phone to text people and post on social media in her name. JP filed for a separation shortly after, but it was also dismissed.
Mica then found a razor blade in her car and told police she thought people were following her, making repeated calls to that effect. She filed for divorce from JP on April 25, 2024, two days before she died.
Death and Federal Charges
Mica was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina at age 30; her death was ruled a suicide. JP denied any responsibility for her passing. In December 2025, a federal grand jury indicted him on two counts: cyberstalking and making false statements, the latter alleging he lied to federal investigators. He pleaded not guilty and has not been charged in connection with Mica’s death.
A trial is currently set for October 2026, with JP free on bond. “These charges only reflect a fraction of what he did to her,” Nate says in the series. Last June, JP married his current wife, Suzie Skinner. The Solid Rock Church building and grounds have since been sold, and it is believed he continues a congregation of some 15 to 20 people gathering in pop-up locations.
