Ex-Deputy’s Medical Release Denied in Sonya Massey Murder Case

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board denied the medical release of former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, who was convicted of murdering Sonya Massey in her home. Following an emotional hearing, the board voted 3-0 against Grayson’s release, ensuring he remains in custody.

Grayson’s attorneys reported that he was diagnosed with colon cancer, which has spread to his liver. Despite his condition, Grayson will continue serving the 20-year sentence for second-degree murder, the maximum penalty under Illinois law, handed down about six months ago.

The murder of Sonya Massey, a significant case that drew national attention, was largely evidenced by graphic body-camera footage. The footage captured Grayson, a white deputy, shooting the 36-year-old Black mother of two who had called 911, reporting a potential prowler near her Springfield-area home in July 2024.

“Today the board recognized what this family has said from the start. No one is above accountability, and a badge does not provide an early way out,” said attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci in a statement. They represent Massey’s family.

After the fatal shooting, Grayson was fired, and the county sheriff resigned. Massay’s family also secured a $10 million settlement with Sangamon County through the efforts of their attorneys. In response to the incident, Governor JB Pritzker passed the “Sonya Massey Bill” last year to revise police hiring practices.

Grayson applied for medical release in May, based on laws for prisoners suffering from terminal illnesses. A medical evaluation confirmed his condition as “irreversible and incurable.” During the hearing, Grayson and his attorneys did not provide statements, and attorney Daniel Fultz declined to comment afterward.

Massey’s family members provided emotional testimony during the hearing. Her father, James Wilburn, expressed that Grayson failed to show compassion for his daughter and questioned the idea of granting him release for compassionate reasons. Donna Massey, Sonya’s mother, emotionally called Grayson a “menace to society.”

The Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office opposed Grayson’s release. They emphasized the potential danger he still poses, highlighting that his cancer diagnosis was known at the time of his sentencing. State’s Attorney John Milhiser stressed Grayson’s history of escalating minor incidents into violent encounters.

Judge Ryan Cadagin noted during sentencing that Grayson’s treatment would not differ outside prison. Following private deliberations by the board, they did not disclose the reasoning behind their decision. Supporters of Massey’s family expressed relief and gratitude after the board’s decision.