Man convicted of strangling girlfriend to death mistakenly released from jail

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - A convicted killer became a free man, after Clayton County jailers mistakenly released him. 

Kathan Guzman was sentenced to life in prison for strangling his girlfriend. But he was released due to what officials have said was a paperwork error.

The victim’s family is now stunned and frightened as authorities try to track Guzman down.

SEE ALSO: Man arrested in Riverdale woman's strangulation death

The backstory:

Guzman was arrested in August 2022. He was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and necrophilia. 

Clayton County Police accused Guzman of strangling 19-year-old Delila Grayson, his ex-girlfriend. Grayson was found dead in a bathtub at a Webb Road home.

Guzman was convicted in October last year of felony murder and sentenced to life.

What we know:

According to the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office, Guzman was accidentally released from the Clayton County Jail on March 27. 

As of Tuesday evening, he remained at large.

What they're saying:

The DA’s office says they hope the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office can put him back behind bars soon. They also express their disappointment with the situation.

District Attorney Tasha Mosley told FOX 5 Atlanta by phone: "We hope the sheriff's office catches him soon," adding, "We are sad and upset about this incident."

"It's scary to know that someone could just be released because of a mistake," said Christina Grayson, Delila’s mother. "And then we wait for two weeks. We don't alert anyone."

Grayson said she learned of the error more than a week after Guzman walked free. She said she hasn’t been able to sleep since. "He strangled Delilah to death in their apartment," Grayson said. "That morning, because she was planning to leave him."

"The DA promised me that he would never get out," she said. "They looked me in my face, and they promised me that he would never get out. I had nothing to worry about. And he's out free."

Grayson said Guzman is a trained mixed martial arts fighter and warned that he could be dangerous. "We’re talking about somebody that is trained in MMA," she said. "He is a trained killer with his hands, and he looks nice and friendly. No one is safe. The public is not safe."

The Clayton County District Attorney's Office issued a formal statement on Thursday:

My office prosecuted Kathan Guzman for the murder of Ms. Delia Grayson. On October 25, 2024 the trial jury returned a guilty verdict on the felony murder charge. On the same day, the trial judge sentenced Guzman to life with the possibility of parole. 

Around noon, on April 8, 2025 the Victim Assistance Unit of my office was notified by the Georgia Office of Victim Services that they were unable to locate Guzman in the Georgia penal system. My office checked the Clayton County Jail system where it appeared that Guzman had been released. My Victim Assistance Program Manager immediately alerted the Sheriff and me. Once the erroneous release was confirmed by the Sherriff’s Office, we contacted the victim’s mother and have remained in communication with her. 

While the management and transport of inmates is outside the scope of the District Attorney’s Office, we have been advised that every available resource is searching for Guzman. It is my sincere hope that Guzman is quickly re-apprehended and serves every day of his life sentence. 

Any questions related to the release or search for Kathan Guzman should be directed to the Clayton County Sherriff’s Office.

What we don't know:

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The attorney listed for Guzman in jail records declined to say whether she knew his whereabouts or if he planned to turn himself in. 

Court records show she filed paperwork on his behalf five days after his release.

What you can do:

If you see Guzman or know his whereabouts, call 911.

Crime and Public SafetyGeorgiaNews