Kathan Guzman: Convicted killer wrongly freed from Georgia jail found in Florida
Convicted killer recaptured in Central Florida
A man convicted of murder and serving a life sentence in Georgia has been captured in Central Florida – two weeks after he was mistakenly released, officials said Friday. A man convicted of murder and serving a life sentence in Georgia has been captured in Central Florida – two weeks after he was mistakenly released, officials said Friday. He was released due to a paperwork error.
A man convicted of murder and serving a life sentence in Georgia has been captured in Central Florida – two weeks after he was mistakenly released, officials said Friday.
Kathan Guzman was found more than 400 miles away at a family member's home in Ocoee, Florida, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals Service told FOX 35 Orlando in a statement.
Why was Kathan Guzman released?
Timeline:
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, FOX 35's sister station, Kathan Guzman was mistakenly released from the Clayton County Jail on March 27 due to a paperwork error, citing officials.
The Clayton County District Attorney's Office said it was alerted to Guzman missing from the jail system on April 8, more than a week later.
The Clayton County Sheriff's Office has not responded to FOX 5 nor FOX 35's requests for comment on the situation.
He was found and detained by the Florida Caribbean Regional fugitive Task Force at a home in Ocoee, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed to FOX 35. The Clayton County District Attorney told FOX 5 that Guzman was found at his mother's home.
Kathan Guzman, a convicted murder who was mistakenly released from prison, was captured on April 11.
Who is Kathan Guzman?
The backstory:
Kathan Guzman was serving a life sentence for strangling his ex-girlfriend, 19-year-old Delila Grayson, but was recently released by mistake from a Georgia prison.
He was arrested in August 2022 and later charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and necrophilia. Guzman was convicted in October 2024 of felony murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Guzman has known ties to Florida as it's where Christina Grayson, Delila's mother, lives. She spoke with FOX 35 on camera about how she was stunned and scared that Guzman could be released in the first place.
Convicted killer mistakenly released from Georgia prison
A convicted killer became a free man, after jailers in Georgia mistakenly released him. The victim's family, which has ties to Central Florida, is distressed and fearful.
Big picture view:
The mistaken release has raised serious concerns about breakdowns within the corrections system, not to mention the trauma that the victim's family continues to face.
Family: ‘I was afraid that he could walk up to me’
What they're saying:
Christina Grayson is relieved that Kaythan Guzman is behind bars. He was serving a life sentence, convicted of strangling her daughter, Delila, to death in 2022.
"It was just like a big weight. I mean, I felt like I could go outside without looking left or right," she said.
Grayson was scared when she discovered the Clayton County jail in Georgia had released him by mistake. Especially to learn today that he was found in Orange County, not far from her.
"I was afraid that he could walk up to me, that he could possibly do something to myself or my children in the middle of the night, any and everything, or he could do harm to someone else," she said.
Now, Grayson has a lot of questions as to how this happened.
"I feel as if a mistake should be classified as a name error or an age error or something simple, not a release of a convicted and sentenced killer. That's not a mistake. I mean, I don't understand how he walks. Passed so many people, and no one knew that this gentleman was supposed to serve life with the possibility of parole and prison."
Delila Grayson's mom relieved convicted killer captured | FULL
Christina Grayson, the mother of Delila Grayson, who was strangled by her ex-boyfriend, said she is relieved that her daughter's killer is back in custody, nearly two weeks after he was mistakenly released from prison. But, she has questions. Why was Kathan Guzman released in the first place, and how? Officials told FOX 5 that it was due to a paperwork error. Christina talked with FOX 35's Stephanie Buffamonte.
Kaythan Guzman was found at his mother's Orange County home. Iris Guzman told FOX 35 News that the Clayton County Jail gave her every indication her son was able to return home.
"He was released with no instruction on where to do, what to do, who to follow up with — nothing," said Guzman. "This looks like an official release, on paper. There was nothing binding him to that facility."
She said there was no effort to hide her son. In fact, she said, they were attempting to establish his residency in Ocoee.
"We weren't hiding anything. We've been here."
Kathan Guzman's mom: Convicted killer wasn't hiding | FULL
Iris Guzman, the mother of Kathan Guzman, a convicted murderer who was mistakenly released from a Georgia jail two weeks ago, told FOX 35's Matt Trezza that his son was not a fugitive and was not hiding from law enforcement. She said she went to pick him up, even called the sheriff's office to make sure her son, who was sentenced to life in prison, was being released. She said she drove to Georgia, picked her son up, and brought him to her house in Ocoee, Florida. She said both she and her son were surprised on Friday when U.S. Marshals swarmed her house and took her son into custody. Guzman was convicted of strangling his ex-girlfriend.
Kathan Guzman expected in court
What's next:
Kathan Guzman was expected to appear in court on Saturday morning.
However, FOX 35 News has learned his first appearance was waived, and he is being held on no bond.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:
- Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines
- Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar
- Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines
- FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Clayton County District Attorney's Office, the Clayton County Sheriff's Office, and court records from the Clayton County Superior Court, and reporting by FOX 5 Atlanta.