Not informing the family of the error and release a likely violation of the victim’s constitutional rights
ATLANTA – News of convicted murderer Kathan Guzman’s mistaken release from prison made headlines on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 — but he was erroneously discharged from Clayton County Jail on March 25, 2025. This convicted murderer, who was sentenced to life in prison for strangling and killing his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend, Delila Grayson, was free for more than two weeks before the Grayson family was notified their daughter’s killer was on the loose.
Sheriff Levon Allen’s office did not notify Grayson’s family, the Clayton County district attorney nor the public that a killer was mistakenly freed. As reported, these actions are a likely violation of crime victims’ rights under Georgia law.
“Notifying the family of any prisoner release is one of the top priorities and rights protected by Marsy’s Law,” said Kevin Epps, an attorney and advisory board member for Marsy’s Law for Georgia. “You can’t ignore a constitutional right, even if you believe you have a good reason.”
“For many crime victims, being aware that someone who may constitute a threat has been released can literally be a life or death issue. We strongly urge the Clayton Count Sheriff’s Office to investigate this matter and take immediate steps to improve its notification process and educate staff on the importance of notification,” Epps continued.
Guzman, who was on the run for three weeks, was thankfully captured on Friday, April 11, but the victim’s family was reportedly not informed of his release until April 8.