Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has died in prison.
Grayson was handling a burglary call in July 2024 when he fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home in unincorporated Springfield. A Peoria County jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder last October. He was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in prison in January.
One of Grayson’s attorneys, Daniel Fultz, confirmed that Grayson died on Sunday morning. Grayson was being held out of state. He was 32.
Grayson was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023. The cancer later spread and advanced to Stage 4. An Illinois Prisoner Review Board panel denied early release for Grayson for medical reasons on July 31.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented the Massey family, released a statement regarding Grayson’s death, saying, “Sonya Massey’s death was unjustifiable, and she should be alive today. Sean Grayson’s death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back. We wish his family prayers of peace, as we do for all who grieve a loved one. Sonya’s family knows the pain all too well and will grieve her loss the rest of their days.”
