Local Sheriff's Office Claims FBI Has Launched 'Parallel Investigation' After Suicide of Mica Miller

Mica Miller was found dead in North Carolina in April from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Robeson County Sheriff's Office says

The FBI is now conducting a "parallel" investigation following the suicide of Mica Miller, the South Carolina pastor's wife found dead in April 27 in Robeson County, N.C., the sheriff's office tells PEOPLE.

Miller, 30, was found dead at the Lumber River State Park from what authorities determined was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

On Wednesday, Damien McLean with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office told PEOPLE that the FBI's field office in Columbia, S.C., is conducting a “parallel investigation” in connection with the case, but is not investigating Mica’s death. McLean declined to provide further information on the nature of the investigation.

Pastor John-Paul Miller, Mica’s estranged husband, was not in North Carolina at the time of her death. McLean reiterated to PEOPLE that the sheriff's office believes John-Paul was not involved in Mica's death.

"There's no evidence connecting him to her death," McLean told PEOPLE. "[The FBI is] investigating separate from her death. Her death has been rule [a] suicide."

Related: Friends Grieve Mica Miller's Death and Share Their Own Uncertainty About Pastor's Wife's Suicide (Exclusive)

Kevin Wheeler, a spokesperson for the FBI's field office in Columbia, S.C., told PEOPLE the office is "communicating" with Robeson County authorities but declined to comment on whether there was an investigation.

Wheeler added, "The truth is, the Robinson County Sheriff Department put out a statement saying that [the FBI was investigating], and all that I can tell you is that we have communicated with them. Beyond that. I can't give you any details."

A statement to PEOPLE from the FBI's national office of public affairs reads: "We have no comment and can neither confirm nor deny an investigation because of longstanding DOJ policy."

McLean, however, said the FBI's is an "investigation that's going along with our investigation," though he added that the bureau is “not investigating any death.”

"It's not connected to, it's not the same investigation," McLean added.

Related: Mica Miller's Suicide 'Is Quite Clear,' Police Say as They Push Back on Conspiracies Around Pastor's Wife's Death

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The ruling of Mica's death as suicide did little to quell speculation from her loved ones that there was foul play involved, but Robeson County authorities have repeatedly asked those following the case to refrain from speculating about the high-profile death.

"Unfortunately, rumors and conspiracy theories were spreading quickly, and assumptions were being made," Sheriff Burnis Wilkins warned in a May 7 statement.

"However, in the end, we must make decisions based on the facts, and evidence that has been gathered," he Wilkins, adding that "the evidence [of a suicide] is quite clear and compelling."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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