(New Haven, CT) - John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District, today announced that Josue Ortega-Torres, age 20, of Meriden, pleaded guilty on March 11, 2025 before the Honorable Gerald L. Harmon to one count of Murder, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a.
The guilty plea entered by Ortega-Torres in New Haven Superior Court stems from the murder of Justin Sloan, Sr., age 44, of Meriden on July 8, 2023. On that date, Meriden police responding to a call about a stabbing on Hanover Drive found Sloan suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was later pronounced deceased.
Investigation revealed that a vehicle, operated by Ortega-Torres, was observed prior to the incident following a vehicle driven by the victim. The vehicles were captured on nearby surveillance cameras and showed that Ortega-Torres followed the victim as he drove toward his home in Meriden. When the victim arrived at his home, Ortega-Torres confronted him as he exited his vehicle, stabbed the victim several times and then left the scene. Witnesses said they observed two individuals standing outside a vehicle. When one individual fell to the ground bleeding, the other individual entered a vehicle and fled.
Ortega-Torres returned home where he concealed his vehicle and the clothing he was wearing. Surveillance cameras identified him, as well as his car, clothing, and other evidence recovered from his home. The investigation led police to a home in Meriden where officers were met with an hours-long standoff by Ortega-Torres who refused to leave his home and challenged “the legality of the investigation and the presence of officers,” before he surrendered to Meriden police.
State’s Attorney Doyle wishes to extend his gratitude to the Meriden Police Department for their investigation of this case as well as emergency medical personnel from the Meriden Fire Department and Hunters Ambulance who responded to the scene. Police, fire and EMS personnel rendered extraordinary efforts at the scene to save the life of the victim, who unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at MidState Medical Center. The New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office offers condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
The case was prosecuted by State’s Attorney Doyle and Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Finnucan, with assistance from Supervisory Inspector Rachael Cain and Paralegal Specialist Diane Kosiorek.
Ortega-Torres will be sentenced to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Harmon in New Haven Superior Court on May 8, 2025.