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Former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson Dies in Prison After Murder Sentence in Sonya Massey Shooting Case While Battling Stage 4 Cancer

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has died in prison while serving the sentence he received for the killing of Sonya Massey, his attorney said Sunday. Grayson was convicted in connection with the 2024 shooting and was in custody after being sentenced to 20 years in January.

Grayson had recently sought medical release because he had stage 4 colon cancer, but the Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted 3-0 last month to deny that request. A board spokesperson said he would remain in custody, and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office opposed the release.

Court And Custody

Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, attorneys for Massey’s family, said in a statement Sunday evening that Sonya Massey’s death was unjustifiable and that her family is still living with the loss. They added that Grayson’s death from cancer does not change what happened to Massey and offered condolences to his family as well.

Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting after a trial last year. In January, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The prison review board later denied his medical release application, with a spokesperson saying the vote was unanimous and that he would remain in custody.

What The Video Shows

Massey was shot in July 2024 after calling 911 to report a possible intruder at her Springfield home. According to body camera footage released by Illinois State Police and reviewed by ABC News, Grayson was inside the home and asked her to turn off a pot of boiling water on the stove.

The video shows Massey appearing to pour water into the sink and repeat his words before saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” It then shows Grayson threatening to shoot her before she ducked behind a counter and covered her face. As she rose, he fired three times, according to the footage and court records.

What Happens Next

Grayson’s attorney did not immediately provide more details about his death. The family of Sonya Massey, including her mother Donna Massey and cousin Sontae Massey, had said they wanted him kept behind bars and worried he could seek release again.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board handled the medical release request, while Illinois State Police released the body camera video from the night of the shooting. Any further custody or case-related updates would likely come from the prison system, the board, or the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s office.

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