Former Illinois Deputy Sean Grayson Sentenced To 20 Years For Killing Sonya Massey
Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin gave Sean Grayson 20 years for the July 6, 2024, shooting of Sonya Massey, court records show.
Overview
Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin sentenced Sean Grayson, 31, to 20 years in prison for second-degree murder in the July 6, 2024, killing of Sonya Massey, according to court records.
Grayson testified he feared Massey would throw a pot of boiling water — a claim prosecutors disputed — and the case, recorded on police body-worn cameras, prompted a U.S. Department of Justice inquiry and a $10 million wrongful-death settlement, court documents show.
Massey's mother, Donna Massey, told Judge Cadagin she is "afraid to call the police," and family members urged the maximum penalty while Grayson apologized in court and defense attorney Mark Wykoff asked for a six-year sentence citing Grayson's advanced cancer, court records show.
Grayson was convicted in October 2024 of second-degree murder after jurors rejected first-degree counts, faced a statutory sentencing range of four to 20 years, and the sentence includes two years of supervised probation, according to court filings.
Judge Cadagin denied the defense motion for a new trial at the hearing, and Massey's family said they will continue to press federal prosecutors for civil-rights charges as advocates seek broader law enforcement reforms, officials and family members said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this as a racially charged case of police brutality by using emotive language, centering the victim’s family and courtroom reactions, and foregrounding body‑cam video. They prioritize quotes and imagery that underscore outrage and trauma while giving limited space to mitigation (the defendant’s illness), shaping a narrative of responsibility and systemic concern.
Sources (6)
FAQ
On July 6, 2024, Sean Grayson, a Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy, shot and killed unarmed 36-year-old Sonya Massey in her home after she called police for help. Body camera footage showed Grayson warning her about a pot of boiling water, fearing she would throw it at him, before firing three shots, one fatally wounding her in the face as she apologized and ducked behind the counter.
Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder in October 2024 after jurors rejected first-degree murder charges. On January 29, 2026, he was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison, plus two years of supervised probation, with credit for time served; he could be eligible for release after serving about 50% of the sentence.
Grayson had a history of misconduct across six police departments in Central Illinois, including complaints of inappropriate conduct with a female detainee, retaliation, and being discharged from the U.S. Army for serious misconduct. Previous employers questioned his integrity before he joined Sangamon County Sheriff's Office.
The case prompted a U.S. Department of Justice inquiry into civil rights violations, which Massey's family continues to pursue. Her family reached a $10 million wrongful-death settlement, and prosecutors denied Grayson's motion for a new trial.
History
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