An Illinois Prisoner Review Board has unanimously denied a request for early release from Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy serving a 20-year sentence for the second-degree murder of Sonya Massey. Grayson, 32, sought a compassionate release less than four months into his sentence, citing a grave turn in his Stage 4 colon cancer, which has spread to his liver and lungs.

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Grayson was convicted in October and sentenced in January for the July 2024 killing of Massey, 36, inside her Springfield home. His attorney had informed the court during sentencing that Grayson was diagnosed with cancer in 2023, prior to the shooting. Medical records obtained by Capitol News Illinois indicated a prognosis of likely death within 18 months, though Grayson applied for release under a provision for medical incapacitation rather than terminal illness.

During his bid for release, Grayson continued to portray Massey as the aggressor. He wrote that Massey had "attacked me with a pot of boiling water," but body-camera footage showed a significant distance between them when he opened fire. Massey had called 911 in the early hours of July 6, 2024, concerned about a possible prowler outside her home. Grayson and another deputy responded and entered her home to question her after finding no intruder.

Body-camera footage captured Grayson pointing his weapon at Massey before firing three times. One bullet struck her in the head, killing her. Grayson activated his body camera only after firing, but the other deputy’s camera recorded the incident. At sentencing, Grayson offered an apology but maintained his claim of self-defense in his release application.

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Grayson's application was filed under Illinois’ Joe Coleman Act, a 2022 law allowing for compassionate medical release. The review board considered Grayson's prognosis, his potential danger to the public, the cost of his care, victim impact statements, and whether his medical condition was factored into his original sentencing. Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser urged the board to deny release, noting that Grayson had cancer when he committed the murder and arguing that his continued belief in self-defense indicated a persistent danger.

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Massey's family members testified against Grayson's release, stating that his application demonstrated a lack of remorse. Her cousin, Sontae Massey, called him "a killer" and stated that while she apologized for his suffering, "he has to pay for what he did." Protests were held outside the review board's office as the decision was considered. Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, representing Massey's family, praised the board's decision, emphasizing that "a badge does not provide an early way out."

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called Massey's killing "a profound loss" and noted that she "was innocent, unarmed, and calling law enforcement for help." He added that it was a painful reminder of the violence faced by Black Americans. Massey, a single mother of two, was killed after calling 911 for assistance. Sangamon County later settled a wrongful-death claim filed by her family for $10 million. In 2024, Illinois approved compassionate medical release for 34 of its approximately 30,000 prisoners.