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ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Mica Miller called 911 on April 27 and told authorities she was about to kill herself — purchasing a gun that same day, Robeson County authorities said on Tuesday.
“I’m about to kill myself and I just want my family to know where to find me,” Miller said in the call, according to authorities.
That was at 2:54 p.m., and by 3:03 p.m., deputies were sent to Lumber River State Park where her body was found. Relatives of the 30-year-old Myrtle Beach woman were given the information during a meeting with Sheriff Burnis Wilkins and other investigators.
Later that day, authorities revealed how Miller spent the final hours of her life — releasing a meticulous timeline and other pieces of evidence to substantiate the medical examiner’s conclusion that Miller committed suicide.
“First, let me say on behalf of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office that our sincere condolences are being sent to the family and friends of Mica Miller,” Wilkins said in a news release.
Miller’s estranged husband, John-Paul, was invited to attend Tuesday’s meeting, but declined. His attorneys requested North Carolina officials deliver news of their findings to him at his Horry County home.
Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that John-Paul spent the night in Charleston at the time of his wife’s death. He was seen traveling on Highway 17 Bypass in Horry County at 2:22 p.m. April 27.
Miller was senior pastor at Solid Rock Church in Market Common and was relieved of his ministerial duties on Sunday. He was served divorce papers two days before Mica’s suicide.
A News13 crew was on hand as relatives left the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office complex but they did not speak to media.
Miller’s mother and others were among those at the meeting.
“Thank you guys, we appreciate what you are doing,” a male member of the group said as they left the meeting.
Robeson County sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday outlined exactly what happened in the final hours of Miller’s life.
Gun purchased hours before Mica Miller’s death
Mica purchased a gun at a Dick’s Pawn shop in the 1800 block of Mr. Joe White Avenue at 12:12 p.m. on April 27, and authorities discovered a search on her phone for “national park near me” that identified Lumber River as the closest location.
Mica was seen leaving the pawn shop at 12:34 p.m. after buying a 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun and ammunition.
Where was John-Paul Miller during Mica’s death?
Authorities’ investigation revealed John-Paul Miller traveled to Charleston on April 26 for a sporting event, which was corroborated by eyewitnesses. License plate readers identified his truck traveling toward Charleston.
Eyewitness statements also confirmed John-Paul stayed overnight April 26 in the Charleston area, according to authorities. A license plate reader identified him returning to the Myrtle Beach area April 27 on Highway 17 Bypass at 2:22 p.m.
According to Robeson County authorities, John-Paul was with other people when traveling to and from the Charleston area.
Authorities reaction to the death
“This incident has garnered much attention from across the Carolinas and beyond,” Wilkins said. “I want to assure everyone that a very methodical investigation was conducted by our Criminal Investigations Team and Crime Scene Investigation Team.”
“Unfortunately, rumors and conspiracy theories were spreading quickly, and assumptions were being made. However, in the end, we must make decisions based on the facts, and evidence that has been gathered,” Wilkins continued. “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. There are many factors that we have reviewed that occurred over an extended period of time that are probably related to the reason for this investigation, but in the end, sadly, a tragic decision was made by Mica that ended her life.”
The full news release from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office along with a detailed timeline of the events surrounding Mica’s suicide is attached at the bottom of this story.
Timeline shows Mica Miller’s movements in final hours
- 10:13 a.m., a Ring doorbell unit shows Miller leaving an apartment on Margarita Drive in Myrtle Beach
- 11 a.m., a Ring doorbell unit shows Miller returning to the same apartment
- 11:38 a.m., a Ring doorbell unit shows her leaving again
- 12:12 p.m., spotting entering the Dick’s Pawn Shop store at 1852 Mr. Joe White Ave. in Myrtle Beach
- 12:32 p.m., seen on camera purchasing the gun
- 12:34 p.m., Miller’s car is seen on camera leaving the parking lot
- 1:27 p.m., security footage shows Miller entering 41 Grocery & Grill in Mullins with a map route getting directions to Lumber River State Park – a 41-minute drive
- 2:54 p.m., 911 call made from park parking lot
Miller is calm throughout the call, asking a dispatcher if her phone can be tracked. The operator asks for Miller’s phone number and location, and then why she was calling.
“I’m about to kill myself, and I just want my family to know where to find me,” she replies.
Robeson County Sheriff’s Office responds minutes later
- 3:05 p.m., contact made with the Lumber River State Park superintendent
- 3:20 p.m., deputies request phone ping
- 3:31 p.m., deputies arrive at Lumber River State Park and begin search with rangers
- 3:33 p.m., drone dispatched
- 3:42 p.m., Verizon contacted to request updated location ping, detectives find Miller’s Honda in the parking lot with a Sig Sauer gun case in the passenger seat and box of ammunition in the center console
- 3:42 p.m., detectives find black Honda in the parking lot with a SC tag confirmed registered to Miller along with a Sig Sauer gun case in the passenger seat and a box of ammunition in the center console
- 3:50 p.m., detectives with drone arrive at the park, contacted by a person who found a bag with Miller’s ID; the person said he “heard crying” while fishing and then heard a gunshot
- 4:23 p.m., another person contacts Robeson County dispatch saying he located a body in the water while fishing from a kayak
- 5:30 p.m., detectives arrive at fisherman’s location
- 5:54 p.m., crime scene technicians and medical examiner arrive
- 7:11 p.m., Sig Sauer 9-millimeter found in water
Authorities found a receipt was found inside Miller’s car from Dick’s Pawn Shop showing she paid $571.16 at 12:32 p.m. on April 27 for the gun and then spent another $25 at the Mullins grocery store at 1:33 p.m.