A South Carolina pastor's estranged wife died of a self-inflicted bullet wound and rumors she was shot in the back of her head aren't true, a medical examiner said Monday.
The finding in the April 27 death of Mica Miller, 30, of Myrtle Beach, came one day after friends and relatives rallied for "justice" outside her husband's church, TV station WPDE reported.
Miller's body was found in the Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina, and the county's medical examiner, Dr. Richard Johnson, released the information about her cause of death, WPDE said.
"Based on the nature of the wound, that it is consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. And it was not in the back of the head, as it has been speculated," the station quoted him as saying.
The finding jibed with what Mica Miller's husband, the Rev. John-Paul Miller, told worshippers at his Solid Rock at Market Common church in Myrtle Beach the day after her body was found.
John-Paul Miller said that his wife's death was "self-induced" and that she "wasn't well mentally," according to a video recording posted online.
Also that day, Mica Miller's sister, Sierra Francis, wrote on Facebook that people should ignore "false stories being spread about her," apparently referring to her husband's report of suicide.
On Thursday, a friend of Mica Miller's also told WPDE: "This has to be at least looked into deeply."
There's "got to be some accountability here," Kenn Young told the station. "It's not just as simple as somebody had some mental issues."
The New York Post reported that Mica Miller filed for divorce about six months ago.
In March, she also posted a cryptic video on Facebook that she said was intended for "ANYONE struggling with leaving a dangerous situation."
In the recording, she referred to "my situation" and said "abuse is abuse," but didn't make any specific allegations.
The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
