Paralyzed Army Vet ‘Took Own Life After Learning Of Wife’s Affair’ With Controversial SC Pastor

Chris Skinner, 41, was found dead in a neighborhood pool in Myrtle Beach, SC, on Sept. 6, 2021.

Both the cops and coroner’s office eventually declared the case a suicide and ended their probes, but the coroner’s office recently reopened its investigation again, although there is no suggestion it involves foul play.

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“It would be fair to say that the coroner has reopened the case because there’s been evidence [that’s] come forward that it could potentially not be an accident,” Skinner’s sister, Tamra McDermott, told Dailymail.com.

She pointed to conflicting descriptions of how Skinner got into the pool from police and coroner reports, despite the fact that both parties viewed the same CCTV footage.

While the coroner wrote that Skinner appeared to have gotten too close to the edge of the pool and slipped in, the police report stated that he had stopped at a curve in the pool before suddenly moving forward and into the water.

There also is new witness testimony contradicting the evidence given by Skinner’s wife Suzie and others to police at the time, McDermott said.

“When looking at the police reports and coroner reports, it is clear there was some inconsistency. Also, it was acknowledged that some of what was said at [the] scene may be inaccurate,” she said without elaborating.

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Skinner became a quadriplegic at age 20, a year after he’d been in the army, because of a car crash. He and Suzie fell in love when she was assigned to him as his physical therapist while he recovered.

Two weeks before Skinner’s death, he confronted controversial pastor John-Paul Miller, 44, demanding Miller end his alleged affair with Suzie.

Miller’s wife, Mica Miller, 30, was discovered dead in Lumbee River State Park, NC, on April 27 last year from a self-inflicted gunshot wound days after she filed for divorce from her pastor hubby.

In November, the FBI searched John-Paul Miller’s home, although the reason is unknown.

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Miller has repeatedly denied having an affair with Suzie Skinner.

But earlier this month, Suzie admitted to the affair as part of a separate legal case Miller is facing regarding allegations he raped a girl, 15, in 1998 — a crime he strenuously denies.

Chris Skinner fell out with Miller’s church, Solid Rock Ministries, and with Miller himself, about four to five months before his death, after three years of attending worship there, McDermott said.

“Chris definitely voiced that he did not like the pastor of that church, and he did stop going to church there,” McDermott said.

“He was in some emotional pain, and he was having a hard time. … He was pulling away and distancing himself.”

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At the time of Skinner’s death, investigators did not speak to McDermott or his parents, despite the fact that they all lived in Myrtle Beach, after they were incorrectly told that Skinner had no family in town, McDermott claimed.

“Essentially, the police took the word of the people that were on the scene at the time,” she said.

Skinner’s case is being reopened as a “direct result” of his association with Miller, due to huge public interest in Mica’s death, McDermott said.

“This exposure has led to a significant number of witnesses coming forward,” she said.

She now hopes that the truth will come out about her brother’s death.

“I just want the truth because truth brings healing, and then it results in peace, and I would like to feel peaceful when I think about my brother’s passing,” she said.

“Chris, honestly, is one of the most resilient people I’ve ever known. He’s just pushed through everything.”

A rep for the Horry County coroner told The Post on Monday, “In response to your questions regarding this case, the Coroner’s Office investigation is separate from the investigation conducted by the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

“Our case remains open at this time.”

Solid Rock Ministries did not respond to Post requests for comment.