Convicted Murderer Erroneously Released from Clayton County Jail Captured in Florida

Kathan Guzman, a convicted murderer who was mistakenly released from the Clayton County Jail on March 27, 2025, has been apprehended in Florida. Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen announced today that the U.S. Marshals Service took Guzman into custody earlier on Friday, April 11, 2025.  

Guzman was sentenced to life in prison on October 25, 2024, in Clayton County Superior Court for the murder of Ms. Delia Grayson and was awaiting transfer to the Georgia Department of Corrections. The erroneous release occurred on March 27th at approximately 4:49 p.m., and the cause remains under investigation, with potential disciplinary actions, including termination, pending for those responsible within the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.  

The inadvertent release was discovered on April 8th when the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office inquired about Guzman’s whereabouts. Sheriff Allen immediately activated his Fugitive Squad and collaborated with numerous Metro Atlanta law enforcement agencies, including police chiefs and sheriffs from Paulding, Fayette, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Fulton, Rockdale, Newton, Butts, Henry, Spalding, Pike, Lamar, Monroe, Coweta, Cobb, Douglas, and Meriwether Counties, as well as the Atlanta Police Department.

Following the gathering of intelligence and investigation of leads, it was determined that Guzman had likely left the state. The U.S. Marshals were then contacted, and they successfully apprehended Guzman in Florida.

Sheriff Allen expressed his gratitude to all the assisting law enforcement agencies and the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office for their collaboration in the swift recapture of Guzman. He also thanked the community and the members of the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office for their dedication to this effort.