A convicted killer who was accidentally released from a Georgia prison was recaptured by US Marshals more than 400 miles away in Florida after two weeks on the run, authorities announced.
Kathan Guzman, 22, who is serving a life sentence for strangling his girlfriend to death, was nabbed Friday morning after law enforcement officials found the fugitive hiding out at his mother’s home in Ocoee, the US Marshals Service told ABC News.
“Today we tracked him down and got him in custody,” Michael Sonethavilay, deputy commander of the agency’s Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, said.
Sonethavilay explained that their Atlanta division “did some digging” and uncovered vital information that pointed them to the Sunshine State, where they collaborated with local officials to locate Guzman.
Guzman, who was only five months into his prison term, was set free from Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro on March 27 over what Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen called a training failure and jailers not paying attention to the murderer’s file.
He was handed his life sentence in October 2024 after admitting to murdering 19-year-old Delia Grayson, who was found dead in a bathtub in August 2022, WSB-TV reported.
Allen said that jailers released Guzman after they reviewed a court document that showed a motion to not prosecute over a necrophilia charge that didn’t stick at trial – and then failed to spot his murder and assault by strangulation conviction.
Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley said her office was notified Tuesday afternoon that the murderer was mistakenly released, prompting a large-scale manhunt.
“All appropriate paperwork was sent to the appropriate people,” Moseley told The Atlantia Journal-Constitution.
“We are just as disappointed and pissed off as everybody else.”
The jail’s error also left Christina Grayson, the victim’s mother, living in fear for her safety and the public’s. Grayson lives in Kissimmee – about 26 miles from where Guzman was captured, WSB reported.
Grayson told the outlet she felt like she was “in prison” while Guzman was on the loose, constantly looking over her shoulder in fear he would pop up. Now that he’s back in custody, the shaken mother said she’s been set free.
“He’s where he should be,” she said before questioning if this was a one-time mistake.
She also condemned the sheriff’s office for not realizing Guzman was mistakenly released sooner.
Guzman, while enjoying his unintended freedom, told someone he believed his release was the result of a higher power and that “God is good,” Allen told the outlet.
An investigation is now underway into the jail’s mishap.
“The cause of his release is under investigation, and disciplinary actions are pending,” Allen said in a statement Friday, ABC reported.
“Once the investigation is complete, it may result in the termination of employees within the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.”
Guzman is being held at Orange County Jail as he awaits extradition, jail records show.
With Post wires.
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