A woman from Kissimmee stated that she now lives in constant fear following the mistaken release of her daughter’s murderer, who had only served a few months of his life sentence.
Christina Grayson mentions that her daughter Delila had been dating Kathan Guzman. According to her, they connected at Poinciana High School before relocating to Georgia together.
Subscribe to our NewslettersIn 2022, when Delila was only 19 years old, Guzman was apprehended for choking her during a dispute and admitted to committing the crime. He was found guilty in October 2024.
Grayson mentions that she felt relieved knowing he wasn’t planning to leave anytime soon, certainly not for many years.
She stated, 'It felt like, okay, we returned home feeling assured,' but added, 'That’s not how things turned out.'
On Tuesday, she received a phone call.
She mentioned that due to a coding mistake, he was inadvertently made available to the public.
The Clayton County Sheriff's Office informed WESH’s affiliated channel that Guzman's release occurred due to employees overlooking their duties. They had failed to notice the charges he was convicted under within an official court filing and instead encountered a motion indicating no prosecution should be pursued for a different charge.
The district attorney issued a statement indicating that upon confirmation of the incorrect release, they immediately reached out to the victim's mother.
Even though he was reached on April 8, Grayson thinks Guzman has been free since March 27, which is roughly halfway through his term.
She expresses that she feels scared for her safety. She is hardly managing to get any rest at all.
"Having checked the windows twice over five rounds each time and the doors half a dozen times along with every moving object, I decided to grab my firearm since it might have been him," Grayson stated.
As reported by WESH’s counterpart in Atlanta, a representative from the sheriff's department mentioned that they chose not to inform the public about Guzman's release at first, as they did not want him to become aware that they were searching for him.
Grayson mentioned that her concerns extend beyond just her own life.
"You ought to be frightened. There's a risk someone could get injured, harmed, or even die," she stated.
The U.S. Marshals Service has acknowledged their involvement in looking for Guzman.
TOP STORIES FROM WESH:
The special edition Stanley tumblers are being snapped up, but these remain available.
READ THE FULL STORY: A Florida mom is terrified for her safety following the accidental release of her daughter's murderer from prison.
CHECK OUT WESH: Stay updated with the most recent news, weather, and sports from Orlando, Florida. Catch the leading headlines along with all the game scores provided by the WESH team.