Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy who was serving a 20-year prison sentence for the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, passed away on August 23. His defense attorney, Daniel Fultz of Springfield, confirmed the death, though the Illinois Department of Corrections did not immediately provide further details.
Grayson’s death occurred just over three weeks after he appeared before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board to request early release. The board had denied his petition in a 3-0 vote. Grayson, who was being held in an out-of-state facility, had sought the hearing under a 2022 state law permitting inmates with terminal or advanced medical conditions to apply for compassionate release.
Medical records indicated that Grayson had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, which later progressed to Stage 4 rectal cancer, with the disease spreading to his liver and lungs. He had been sentenced in January by Seventh Circuit Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin following his conviction by a Peoria County jury in October on a charge of second-degree murder.
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 contacted 911 to report a potential intruder. Body-worn camera footage from Grayson’s partner, Dawson Farley, showed that Grayson did not activate his own camera until after the shooting took place.
During the encounter, Grayson instructed Massey to remove a pot of hot water from her stove. When Massey, holding the pot, stated, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Grayson threatened to shoot her. After she ducked behind a kitchen counter, Grayson fired three times, striking her in the face. In his official report, Grayson claimed he interpreted her comment as a lethal threat.
The shooting drew significant international scrutiny and led to Grayson’s swift termination and arrest. The fallout prompted the resignation of Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell following pressure from Governor JB Pritzker. To resolve a subsequent federal investigation by the Department of Justice, the county committed to implementing new training and procedures for handling mental health crises.
Questions regarding Grayson’s background emerged following the incident, revealing that he had worked for six different law enforcement agencies in four years prior to joining the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023. His employment history included two DUIs, a discharge from the U.S. Army for “serious misconduct,” and various complaints from both civilians and fellow officers, though these details were not presented during his murder trial.
Before his sentencing, Grayson offered an apology to the Massey family, acknowledging their anger. In May, Judge Cadagin denied a motion to reconsider the sentence, a decision that had been moved to the Fourth District Appellate Court for further 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 three-man jury received instructions on the lesser charge of second-degree murder, he had faced first-degree murder charges before the nine-woman. The report also notes that a 36-year-old Black woman and the mother of two children, didn’t believe a second-degree murder conviction was harsh enough, many supporters of Massey. The report also notes that she was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. 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.