The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed to Newsweek that agents apprehended convicted murderer Kathan Guzman on Friday, two weeks after his mistaken release from a county jail south of Atlanta.
In his early 20s, Guzman confessed to strangling his then-girlfriend, 19-year-old Delila Grayson, to death. Her body was discovered in a bathtub in August 2022, according to Clayton County police.
Newsweek has reached out to the Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen and Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley via email on Friday.
Why It Matters
The release of Guzman, who is serving a life sentence, has raised questions and concerns about jail procedures and staff training.
Grayson’s mother, Christina, said she was fearful of her life and others when it was revealed that Guzman was out of jail.
What To Know
Guzman was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on Friday, after arresting him in Orange County, Florida, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The arrest comes after a manhunt in two states, Florida and Georgia, since his late-March release from Clayton County jail. On March 27, Clayton County jail staff let Guzman walk free after failing to properly review his paperwork, Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen told Atlanta’s WSB-TV.
Guzman’s file includes a document that shows a motion not to prosecute, however that was only on one of the charges, necrophilia. The other documents clearly indicate that a jury convicted Guzman on felony murder and aggravated assault. In October 2024, the Clayton County district attorney’s office announced that Guzman received a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
However, these details were overlooked by jail staff, leading to his wrongful release. The staff did not realize the error until days later when the state called to inform the local jail of Guzman’s upcoming transfer to prison.
Guzman is a Florida native, as is Grayson’s family. He was reportedly arrested at family member’s house in central Florida, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.
Newsweek filed out an online contact form with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on Friday.
What People Are Saying
Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry, chairwoman of the Clayton County Commission, told local WSBTV: “It just shows negligence on the part of the sheriff’s department.”
Christina Grayson, mother of murdered Delila, told 11 Alive: “How does this happen? I am petrified for my life. I mean, obviously, a life didn’t mean a thing to him.”
She added: “Considering seeing what he did to Delilah, I would say that the public is in imminent danger. He would have gotten away with taking her life if it wasn’t for the neighbors beneath them coming out and taking a glimpse of him.”
Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley said in a Wednesday statement to 11 Alive: “I am not happy about this mistake made by a sheriff’s office employee. My staff worked hard to get justice for the victim’s family and to make our streets safe and we are just disappointed.”
What Happens Next?
Guzman is being held in Floridaafter his mid-day arrest on Friday, the U.S. Marshals Service told Newsweek.
Update 4/11/25, 3:20 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with the U.S. Marshals confirmation.
Update 4/11/25, 2 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and a new headline.
