By james art 
Miller is the pastor at Solid Rock Church in South Carolina. His wife, Micah Miller, 30, killed herself earlier this year, drawing national attention to the couple’s marriage.
Editor’s note: This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, there is help. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Federal authorities conducted an investigation Friday at the home of Pastor John-Paul Miller of Solid Rock Church in South Carolina.
The FBI was conducting “court-authorized law enforcement activity” at the Myrtle Beach home, agency spokesman Kevin Wheeler told USA TODAY. He declined to comment further, citing the “ongoing matter.”
Reports from local news station WBTW said 25 FBI agents were at the home wearing Evidence Response Team uniforms. Agents were apparently there to execute a search warrant, with neighbors telling the station that Miller was not home at the time.
Miller and his church came under close scrutiny after his wife, Micah Miller, 30, was found dead in April at Lumber River State Park. Her death was ruled a suicide, but the case gained national attention after allegations surfaced that Miller had abused Micah before her death.
Here’s what we know.
Who is John-Paul Miller?
Miller, 45, pastors Solid Rock Church in South Carolina. According to the church’s website, he has been a pastor at the church for the past eight years as of 2016. Miller also has five children, Logan, Zachary, Eli, Asher and Selah.
What happened to John-Paul Miller’s wife?
Miller’s wife, Micah, was found dead on April 27 at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina, according to WBTW. One day later, Miller announced her death at the end of a sermon.
“I’m taking some time off and I don’t want to worry about the church,” he said before announcing her death. “My time off could be a few days, a few weeks, I don’t know.”
In the weeks following Micah’s death, reports began to emerge that Miller had abused Micah in the run-up to her suicide. In a May 8 WBTW report, Micah made allegations that Miller wouldn’t let her drive and “cut her hair” years before their marriage.
She said “she had known her husband since she was 10 years old and that he had ‘groomed’ her while she worked for him at Solid Rock Church until they married six years ago,” according to a police report obtained by WBTW.
Dozens of demonstrators held a “Justice for Micah” rally outside Solid Rock Church in June after allegations of abuse surfaced.
What did John-Paul Miller say about the abuse allegations?
After the abuse allegations against Micah, Miller told ABC 11 that he was not to blame for his wife’s suicide. Asked about the people who blame him for this, he said that “they are the biggest idiots on planet earth.”
“I’m the only one who tried to help her stay alive,” Miller said. “No type of abuse. I took care of her better than any man could take care of her in any way.”
In an emailed letter obtained by NewsNation, Miller admitted to posting a topless photo of Mika online before her death.
“I’m sorry for putting your picture on the internet,” he wrote. “It was in less than an hour and it was taken down immediately. I was hurt that you were telling everyone the horrible intimate details of my past sin and I just wanted to hurt you, please, it was bad of me.
USA TODAY could not immediately reach Miller or his attorney for comment.
Legal disputes between Miller and Micah’s family
In late June, Miller and Micah’s family reached a settlement and agreed to end any legal disputes they had.
This comes after Sierra Francis, Micah’s sister, filed a petition to become special administrator of her estate, WBTW said. As part of the petition, Francis alleges that Miller and his church conspired to devalue the home. In addition, Miller’s attempt to sell the couple’s home during the divorce proceedings was “an attempt to defraud and deprive his wife … of her fair share of the family property,” according to a complaint obtained by WBTW.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a current affairs reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him at X @fern_cerv_.