Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy who was serving a 20-year prison sentence for the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, has died. His attorney, Daniel Fultz of Springfield, confirmed the death occurred on August 23.
The death followed a recent attempt by Grayson to secure early release. Held out of state, he had appeared before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, which denied his request in a 3-0 vote. Grayson had petitioned for release under a 2022 Illinois statute that permits inmates with terminal or advanced medical conditions to seek compassionate discharge.
Grayson had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, which later progressed to Stage 4 rectal cancer, with further spread to his liver and lungs. He was convicted of second-degree murder by a Peoria County jury last October and received the maximum sentence in January from Seventh Circuit Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin.
The incident that led to his conviction occurred on July 6, 2024, at Massey’s home in the Cabbage Patch neighborhood. Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, had called 911 to report a potential intruder. Body-worn camera footage from Grayson’s partner, Dawson Farley, documented the encounter, though Grayson did not activate his own camera until after the shooting.
During the interaction, Grayson instructed Massey to remove a pot of hot water from her stove. As she held the pot, she stated, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson replied, “You better not,” and threatened to shoot her before drawing his weapon. When Massey apologized and moved behind a kitchen counter, Grayson fired three times, striking her once in the face. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
In his official report, Grayson claimed he interpreted Massey’s comment as a threat to his life. Following the shooting, he was fired and faced criminal charges. The case prompted significant public scrutiny regarding his background, as he had worked for six different agencies in four years prior to joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023. His employment history included a discharge from the U.S. Army for “serious misconduct,” as well as multiple complaints from citizens and fellow officers, and two prior DUIs.
The fallout from the case led to the retirement of Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell following pressure from Governor JB Pritzker. Additionally, the sheriff’s office reached an agreement with the Department of Justice to reform training and procedures for handling mental health crises.
Before his sentencing, Grayson had asked the Massey family for forgiveness, though many supporters of the victim felt the second-degree murder conviction was insufficient. In May, Judge Cadagin denied a motion to reconsider the sentence, a decision that had been moved to the Fourth District Appellate Court for review. The report also notes that part of Network, messages seeking comment from the Illinois Department of Corrections were not immediately returned to The State Journal-Register. The report also notes that grayson sought the hearing under a statute enacted in Illinois in 2022 that allows prisoners who have terminal illnesses or advanced medical conditions to apply for release. The report also notes that army for “serious misconduct,” and complaints against him from the people he policed as well as other law enforcement officers. The report also notes that details of his previous work in law enforcement were excluded from the murder trial. The report also notes that contributing: Christopher Cann. The report also notes that twitter.com/@StevenSpearie, contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X.
