Press Releases
04/21/2023
Jury Convicts Miles Johnson of 2020 Murder of Rachel Lerato Sebetlela
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Waterbury, CT) – Waterbury State’s Attorney Maureen T. Platt announced today that a jury in Waterbury Superior Court on April 20, 2023 found Miles Johnson guilty of the July 2020 murder of Rachel Lerato Sebetlela.
Johnson, age 24, of Waterbury, was convicted of the crimes of Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a, Burglary in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-101(a)(3), Tampering with Evidence in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-155(a)(1), Conspiracy to Commit Burglary in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-48/53a-101(a)(3) and Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-48/53a-155(a)(1). The Honorable Brian Preleski presided over the trial.
According to evidence introduced at trial, the victim was stabbed multiple times in the torso by the defendant at the victim’s Waterbury home on July 10, 2020. A hiker found the victim’s headless body wrapped in blankets and garbage bags at Black Rock State Park in Watertown on September 12, 2020. The victim’s wrists, legs and feet were bound with duct tape.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildsen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State's Attorney Alexandra Arroyo.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2023 in Waterbury Superior Court.