Clayton County, GA – A life sentence turned into a chaotic manhunt when a convicted murderer was accidentally released from jail, sparking a multi-state search that lasted for weeks.
Kathan Guzman, who was convicted of murder and aggravated assault in the killing of 19-year-old Delia Grayson, was sentenced to life in prison in October 2024. Guzman had strangled Grayson to death in 2022, a crime he initially claimed was in self-defense. However, the court found that the excessive force used made his actions far beyond the scope of self-defense, leading to his conviction.
But in a shocking turn of events, Guzman was mistakenly released from Clayton County Jail on March 27, 2025, at approximately 4:49 p.m. The exact cause of the error remains unclear, and authorities are still investigating why it happened. It wasn’t until over a week later, on April 8, that Sheriff Levon Allen’s office realized the dangerous inmate was no longer in custody.
Once the release was discovered, Sheriff Allen immediately alerted law enforcement agencies across Georgia, and a task force was formed to track Guzman down. Investigators soon determined that Guzman had fled Georgia and was hiding in another state. At that point, the case was handed over to the U.S. Marshals for further investigation.
Just days later, on April 11, 2025, Sheriff Allen announced that Guzman had been apprehended without incident. The U.S. Marshals located him at his mother’s home in Florida, ending the weeks-long search.
In a statement, Sheriff Allen expressed his relief at Guzman’s capture, but also revealed that an internal investigation into the mishandling of his release was underway. He warned that the investigation could potentially lead to the termination of employees responsible for the error.
“The reason Guzman was released is under investigation, and we are committed to holding anyone accountable who may have been involved in this mistake,” Sheriff Allen said.
This unintended release and the subsequent manhunt have raised serious questions about jail procedures and the safety protocols in place to prevent such incidents from occurring. While Guzman is now back in custody, the public’s concerns about the integrity of the criminal justice system in Clayton County are likely to linger.