JONESBORO, Ga. — Authorities in Georgia and Florida are actively searching for Kathan Guzman, a convicted killer who was mistakenly released from a county jail in Clayton County, Georgia, two weeks ago. Guzman, in his early 20s, was convicted of strangling his girlfriend, 19-year-old Delila Grayson, in August 2022.

According to Clayton County Sheriff Levon Allen, jail workers failed to properly review Guzman’s paperwork, leading to his inadvertent release. Despite Guzman having been sentenced to life in prison for murder and assault by strangulation, the employees did not notice the details on the paperwork, resulting in the error.

Guzman had confessed to the brutal killing of Grayson, whose body was found in a bathtub in a Georgia home. His conviction was based on that admission, yet he was freed from the facility due to the clerical mistake.

Sheriff Allen stated that law enforcement officials believe Guzman may have returned to Osceola County, Florida, a region south of Orlando, where Grayson’s mother, Christina Grayson, resides. The victim’s family is now living in constant fear, with Christina Grayson openly expressing concerns that Guzman could seek revenge for their involvement in his trial.

“I feel like I’m a sitting duck,” said Grayson in an interview with WFTV-TV. She described how her family has been forced to sleep in shifts, with someone always awake to stay vigilant.

In response to the growing concerns for the family’s safety, Osceola County deputies are patrolling the area around Grayson’s home, working to ensure her family’s security during the ongoing search for Guzman.

As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to remain cautious and report any sightings of Guzman, who is considered dangerous and potentially armed.

This case highlights the risks that arise from errors in the criminal justice system, raising questions about the procedures in place to prevent such mistakes from happening in the future. As the search for Guzman intensifies, both Georgia and Florida authorities are working together to bring him back into custody.