Former Illinois sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson, convicted of killing Sonya Massey after she called 911 for help, has died in prison. Grayson, 32, died Sunday of Stage 3 colon cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs. He was six months into a 20-year sentence for the second-degree murder of Massey.
Grayson had been diagnosed with cancer in 2023. His attorneys sought medical release, stating that an Illinois Department of Corrections medical professional had concluded he was likely to die within 18 months. However, he was denied release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board last month. Grayson had applied for release under a provision for prisoners expected to become medically incapacitated within six months, rather than citing terminal illness.
Massey, 36, was shot and killed in July 2024 inside her Springfield home. She had called 911 to report a possible prowler. Grayson and another deputy responded to the call and searched the property but found no intruder before entering Massey's home. Body-camera footage captured by the other deputy showed Grayson pointing his gun at Massey before firing three times. One shot fatally struck her in the head.
Grayson did not activate his body camera until after the shooting. He was convicted of second-degree murder in October and received the maximum sentence in January. Attorneys for Massey's family stated that Grayson's death does not bring her back, emphasizing that her family will continue to grieve her loss.
Grayson had apologized at his sentencing but maintained in his medical-release application that Massey had attacked him. His request for release was filed under Illinois’ Joe Coleman Act, a 2022 law named after an Army veteran who died of prostate cancer in prison, which allows for compassionate release for prisoners with terminal illnesses or severe medical incapacity.