Sean Grayson, former Sangamon County deputy convicted in killing of Sonya Massey, dies in prison, attorney says
Grayson died after less than a year of a 20-year sentence, and his lawyers said advanced colon cancer had spread to his liver and lungs.
- On Sunday, August 23, 2026, Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in 2024, died in prison while serving a 20-year sentence.
- Battling stage 4 rectal cancer that had spread to his liver and lungs, Grayson sought early medical release under the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act. The Illinois Prisoner Review Board unanimously rejected his petition three weeks ago.
- A jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder last October for the July 6, 2024 shooting. Body-worn camera footage showed Grayson fired his duty weapon three times after threatening to "Shoot in the f------ face" as she stood near a pot of boiling water.
- Massey family members celebrated the news on Facebook, with her son Malachi Hill stating the family can now begin their grieving process. "Now my family can start our grieving process," Hill said.
- State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, championed stricter police background checks through state law to prevent future incidents. "It's also really comforting to the family that we are continuing to do what we can in our community," Turner said.
244 Articles
244 Articles
Black America Web
Sean Grayson, Cop Who Shot & Killed Sonya Massey, Dies In Prison
Sean Grayson, a former Illinois deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, died in prison from cancer complications. Just six months into his 20-year prison sentence, Sean Grayson’s cancer spread to other areas of his body, with his death reported on August 23. The Associated Press reports that Sean Grayson, 32, was being held at an undisclosed location outside of Illiniois after he was convicted in January of this year of second-degree murder in…
BlackPressUSA
windycityword.comSean Grayson, Sonya Massey’s Killer, Dies in Prison at 32
Sean Grayson was the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, inside her Springfield, Illinois home in July 2024 after she called 911 to report a possible prowler. A jury convicted him of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2026. He had been battling stage 4 colon cancer, but his attorney confirmed he died in prison today, Sunday, August 23, 2026, …
Former Illinois Deputy Who Shot And Killed A Woman Holding A Boiling Pot Of Water Has Died In Prison
Sean Grayson was serving a 20-year sentence after his conviction in the 2024 shooting; he had sought early medical release for advanced cancer. Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, has died in prison at the age of 32, his attorney confirmed. Grayson died Sunday while serving a 20-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Attorney Daniel F…
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