Man Convicted of Felony Murder and Aggravated Assault in Strangulation Death of Girlfriend

Clayton County District Attorney Tasha M. Mosley announced the conviction of Kathan Guzman, who was found guilty by a jury on one count of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault. The verdict follows a trial where evidence was presented that Guzman strangled his 19-year-old girlfriend, Delila Grayson, to death during a violent argument on August 7, 2022.

The prosecution demonstrated that after several hours of arguing, Guzman manually strangled Grayson, then moved her body to the bathroom, closed the door, and left the apartment. He did not contact law enforcement for over 10 hours. Guzman testified that Grayson attacked him with a knife and that he acted in self-defense, applying a “sleeper hold” for 10 seconds, claiming the death was accidental. He further stated that he had professional martial arts training and had used this technique successfully before.

However, the State called Dr. Rachel Geller, a Medical Examiner, who testified that the pressure applied to Grayson’s neck for a sustained period would have caused her loss of consciousness, but that continuous pressure for an additional 4 to 6 minutes was required for death to occur. The jury concluded that Guzman’s actions were excessive, and self-defense was not applicable.

The case was led by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Nigel H. Hunter, with Chief Assistant District Attorney Zina Pitts as second chair. Major Case Investigator Khalil Rajahn and Victim Advocate Maria Dillard also played key roles in the prosecution.

Senior Judge David Irwin presided over the trial, which lasted from October 21 to October 25, 2024. Guzman was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

District Attorney Mosley stated, “We hope this conviction brings some measure of closure for the loved ones of Ms. Grayson. Our office is committed to holding perpetrators of such violent acts accountable and ensuring the safety of Clayton County’s residents.”