Former pastor John-Paul Miller's federal trial delayed to October
The federal trial of former pastor John-Paul Miller, charged with cyberstalking his late wife Mica Miller and making false statements to investigators, has been delayed again. A court-ordered continuance filed in mid-August 2026 moved the case to the October 2026 term—the latest postponement in a prosecution that has not brought charges over her death.
Miller, the former Solid Rock Church pastor in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, pleaded not guilty after a December 2025 federal indictment. He remains free on bond while the case inches toward trial, even as public scrutiny of the Miller saga intensifies.
Key Takeaways
- A mid-August 2026 continuance pushed Miller's federal trial from an expected summer date to the October 2026 court term.
- Miller faces cyberstalking and false-statement charges tied to harassment allegations before Mica Miller's April 2024 death; he has pleaded not guilty.
- Mica Miller's death at Lumber River State Park was ruled a suicide, but a Netflix documentary and fresh protests have renewed demands for accountability.
- Miller has not been charged in connection with his wife's death; the FBI investigated after allegations reported to the Robeson County sheriff.
Why was John-Paul Miller's trial delayed again?
According to reporting on the federal case, a court-ordered continuance filed in mid-August 2026 pushed Miller's trial to the October 2026 term. Documentary filmmaker Michael Gasparro told Netflix Tudum the schedule has slipped repeatedly—dates once set for spring were moved to June, then August, and now October.
Gasparro attributed the latest delay to the defense working through discovery. For Mica Miller's family and supporters, each postponement prolongs a case they say never captured the full scope of what she endured.
What charges does Miller face in federal court?
A federal grand jury indicted Miller in December 2025 on two counts: cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators. Prosecutors allege a pattern of harassment from November 2022 until Mica's death on April 27, 2024.
The Netflix documentary Death of the Pastor's Wife cites police reports and records describing tracking devices on her car, relentless texts and calls, a nude photo posted without her consent, and tampering with her vehicle. Miller has not been charged in connection with Mica's death, which the medical examiner ruled a suicide.
How has the Mica Miller case resurfaced publicly?
Netflix released the three-part documentary this week, drawing fresh attention to Mica Miller's story. On Sunday, protesters gathered outside Mercy Church in Myrtle Beach, where John-Paul "JP" Miller now preaches, holding signs and demanding answers two years after she was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said the medical examiner determined Mica Miller's death was a suicide based on evidence at the scene. He also said he asked the FBI to investigate based on allegations reported to his department. Demonstrators told WPDE the film raised unresolved questions about the circumstances at the park.
Where does the Miller case stand now?
Miller remains free on bond as his case heads toward an October trial. For Mica's brother Nate, the federal indictment addresses only part of what his sister endured. He told filmmakers the charges "only reflect a fraction of what he did to her."
Protesters said they plan to keep demonstrating as the fall court date approaches. Mercy Church did not respond to a request for comment after Sunday's events. For more on cases like this, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries coverage.