Pastor John-Paul Miller admits to relationship with widow of paralyzed vet but denies affair led to his suicide

A scandal-hit South Carolina pastor has dismissed the “ungodly” accusations that he had any involvement in his wife’s death, or that he had an affair which led to a paralyzed Army veteran taking his own life.

John-Paul Miller, the former pastor at Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, hit headlines last April following the suicide of his wife Mica Miller, 30, whose body was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a North Carolina national park.

This week, the sister of Chris Skinner — a quadriplegic Army veteran turned motivational speaker — alleged that her brother took his own life in 2021 after learning that his wife was having an affair with Miller, his pastor.

Miller admitted that he was dating Suzie Skinner, Chris’ widow, but insisted that the pair hadn’t started dating until this year.

“Suzie and I didn’t start dating until January of 2025, just like she stated under oath last month,” he told Crime and Cask, a South Carolina-based publication. “In fact, it was Mica who asked if we should invite Suzie and her twins to go on a ski vacation, and we did so in December of 2022.”

Miller officiated at Skinner’s funeral and delivered his eulogy after he drowned in a swimming pool. Recently, the coroner’s office reopened its investigation into Skinner’s death, although there is no suggestion of foul play.

“Over the past year, I have seen and read hundreds of lies about myself,” Miller told Crime and Cask. “I’m waiting and preparing to defend myself against harm caused to my reputation, career, or emotional well-being — from overzealous people, certain social media personalities, and news.”

Miller returned to the pulpit in February, nine months after the death of his wife, at a different ministry, The Sun News reported at the time.

He alleges he has been harassed by protesters ever since, many of them accusing him of having some involvement in the suicide of his wife.

He was also sharply criticized for casually announcing his wife’s death at the end of a sermon on April 28 last year.

“People say I should defend myself online and prove that what’s being said is a lie and show proof that what I say is truth, and I can,” he told Crime and Cask. “But I believe that would only fuel their evil, ungodly gossip and strife that are in the world.”

Miller also claimed that he had spoken to Skinner at church the day before he died, and said he was estranged from his sister Tamra McDermott.

“He was just as happy and fun and outgoing as he always was,” Miller said of his last time seeing Skinner. “Chris only had wonderful things to say to me.”

Miller attacked McDermott, adding, “Tammy uses lies to try and make herself the strong sibling, which everyone knows is untrue. Chris was such a wise man that he never allowed Tammy to be around his family.”