Controversial South Carolina Pastor John-Paul Miller is back in the headlines, after admitting he is dating Suzie Skinner, the widow of a former parishioner. During testimony in one of Miller’s two sexual assault cases, Skinner admitted she’d had an extramarital affair with the pastor. Miller, however, said, “Suzie and I didn’t start dating until January of 2025, just like she stated under oath last month.”
Miller has been in the news since last April, when he told congregants at Solid Rock Ministries in Myrtle Beach that his wife, Mica, had died by suicide. Although officials concurred with that cause of death, Mica’s friends and family members alleged she was in an “abusive marriage.”
John-Paul, who has denied any involvement in his wife’s death, has been the subject of protests and ongoing speculation. The FBI raided Miller’s home last November but has provided no details about the reason or findings.
This spring, two women came forward to accuse Miller of sexual assault, in connection to ministries his father led more than two decades ago. Miller has not been criminally charged.
New Girlfriend of John-Paul Miller Is a Widow
Suzie Skinner, Miller’s current girlfriend, had been married to Chris Skinner, an Army veteran who was paralyzed in a car accident at age 20. In 2021, Chris Skinner drowned in a community swimming pool, and his death was ruled accidental.
The coroner recently reopened its investigation, however, and Chris’ sister, Tamra McDermott, has speculated that her brother might have taken his own life. McDermott said Skinner was distraught over his wife’s affair with Miller, who was his pastor at the time.
“About four to five months prior to his passing, [Chris] did talk a lot about the pastor at that church,” McDermott said. “He did stop going to church there. He would talk openly to me, close friends of his, and others about…why he was distancing himself from the church.”
The initial investigation into her brother’s death contains inconsistencies, according to McDermott, who said new witness testimony contradicts the account Suzie Skinner gave police in 2021. In addition, McDermott said police failed to interview other family members, including Chris’ parents.
Miller accused McDermott of lying and being “unstable,” saying she’s trying to “get attention as some sort of victim.” The pastor, who officiated at Chris Skinner’s funeral, said Chris had been “happy and fun and outgoing” the day before he drowned in his wheelchair.
John-Paul Miller Is ‘Preparing To Defend Myself’
“Over the past year, I have seen and read hundreds of lies about myself,” Miller said in a recent interview. “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.”
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Miller added, “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. But I believe that would only fuel their evil, ungodly gossip and strife that are in the world.”
