Kathan Guzman, who was serving a life sentence after being convicted of murdering his girlfriend in 2022, was mistakenly released from a Georgia jail on March 27. Two weeks later, on April 11, authorities arrested Guzman in Florida.
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According to ABC News, Guzman was originally convicted of murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend, Dalia Grayson, in 2024. On March 27, however, he was erroneously released from the Clayton County Jail. Originally, he was scheduled to be transferred to the Georgia Department of Corrections when the mistake took place.
For two weeks, no one noticed the mistake until the Clayton County District Attorney's Office contacted Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen, asking about Guzman. District Attorney Tasha Mosley explained that they were unable to find Guzman in Georgia's penal system, prompting the inquiry.
"My office checked the Clayton County Jail system, where it appeared that Guzman had been released," Mosley said in a press release.
Mistake Discovered
The mistake was discovered on Tuesday, April 8. Following a search, authorities were able to track down and arrest Kathan Guzman in an Ocoee residence near Orlando, Florida, as per CNN. Sheriff Levon Allen revealed that the incident is under investigation.
"The cause of the release is under investigation, and disciplinary actions are pending," Allen said. "Once the investigation is complete, it may result in the termination of employees within the Clayton County Sheriff's Office."
When it was discovered that Kathan Guzman had been freed by mistake, authorities contacted Dalia Grayson's mother. Back on August 7, 2022, Guzman strangled Grayson to death following a heated argument.
Fearing for her safety, Christina Grayson, Dalia's mother, took sleeping shifts with her family, thinking that Guzman could approach them. Osceola County deputies patrolled Grayson's neighborhood while authorities searched for Guzman.
"I can't walk around without my concealed weapon," Grayson told WSB. "I mean, I have to make sure I have that and my phone."
Guzman was arrested just 26 miles away from Christina Grayson's residence in Kissimmee, according to WSB. She can now rest peacefully known that Guzman is being held at Orange County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Georgia.
