January 29, 2026/

Ex-deputy sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing Sonya Massey

Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting Sonya Massey at her Springfield home in July 2024.

A jury convicted Sean Grayson of second-degree murder Oct. 29. On Thursday morning in Springfield, Judge Ryan Cadigan handed down the maximum allowed sentence for Grayson’s crime.

In a statement from the Massey Commission for Sangamon County, Sonya’s cousin, Sontae Massey, said Sonya’s death would follow her for the rest of her life.

“It is a permanent reminder of what happens when power is exercised without humanity, when a life is treated as disposable,” Sontae Massey stated.

The trial was in Peoria after Grayson’s legal team argued local news coverage of Massey’s death would make it impossible to find an impartial jury.

In the early morning hours of July 6, 2024, Massey called police about a suspected prowler. Two Sangamon County Sheriff deputies arrived on the scene. Body camera footage released by Illinois State Police showed Grayson confronting Massey and threatening to shoot her in the face.

Massey was then shot in the head.

Greg Bishop contributed to this story.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Voters to decide two statewide measures, nearly 100 local proposals

Voters to decide two statewide measures, nearly 100 local proposals

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square As Colorado voters prepare for Election Day, they will vote on two statewide ballot measures and nearly 100 local measures across 30 counties. Those measures...
WATCH: Coalition sues to protect student loan forgiveness

WATCH: Coalition sues to protect student loan forgiveness

By Dave MasonThe Center Square Democratic attorney generals from 22 jurisdictions sued the U.S. Department of Education Monday over its new rule limiting Public Student Loan Forgiveness for government and...
WATCH: California attorney general talks about Prop. 50

WATCH: California attorney general talks about Prop. 50

By Dave MasonThe Center Square California has nothing to hide. That’s Attorney General Rob Bonta’s response to The Center Square’s question about the U.S. Department of Justice assigning monitors to...
Illinois quick hits: Man charged with threatening Trump; judge grants injunction in shelter funding case

Illinois quick hits: Man charged with threatening Trump; judge grants injunction in shelter funding case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Man charged with threatening Trump For the second time in less than a week, a person from Illinois has been charged...

WATCH: IL GOP Rep: Sanctuary expansion bill may expose many to civil lawsuits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House and Senate leaders are touting legislation they say will protect people from federal immigration enforcement,...
Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

Senators introduce legislation to codify Antifa terror designation

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square More than a month after President Donald Trump designated Antifa a domestic terror organization, a group of senators is proposing legislation to codify the president’s...
DHS proposes billion dollar expanded DNA testing for immigrants

DHS proposes billion dollar expanded DNA testing for immigrants

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a multibillion dollar proposal on Monday to increase biometric scanning during the immigration process. The proposal would expand...
Trump administration resumes visa processing despite shutdown

Trump administration resumes visa processing despite shutdown

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square After a month of halted operations, the U.S. Department of Labor will begin processing necessary documents for visa and permanent resident applications again. While agencies...
Muslims in Virginia, New York face decades in prison for supporting Houthis, ISIS

Muslims in Virginia, New York face decades in prison for supporting Houthis, ISIS

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Two cases in Virginia and New York highlight ongoing Islamic terrorist threats at home and abroad, including resulting in the death of two U.S. Navy...
Indian reservation focus of human smuggling probe at U.S.-Canada border

Indian reservation focus of human smuggling probe at U.S.-Canada border

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square An Indian reservation that spans the U.S.-Canada border, including Ontario, Quebec and two upstate New York counties, is the focus of another human smuggling operation....
'Temporary Band-Aid': USDA able to cover 50% of November SNAP benefits

‘Temporary Band-Aid’: USDA able to cover 50% of November SNAP benefits

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite previously denying it had the legal authority to do so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday that it will use emergency funds to...
WATCH: Family, friends remember Bailey family at celebration of life

WATCH: Family, friends remember Bailey family at celebration of life

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Loved ones have paid their respects to members of gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s family at a celebration...
Duffy: We are going to go after the CDL mills

Duffy: We are going to go after the CDL mills

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Safety concerns, two triple-fatals involving 18-wheelers and a closer look at commercial driver’s licenses has led the U.S. Department of Transportation to say, “We are...

WATCH: Amid criticism, Pritzker defends using expletive to tell Trump where to go

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday defended the use of an expletive that he used in front...
Election integrity advocates urge reform after Illinois scores low in global survey

Election integrity advocates urge reform after Illinois scores low in global survey

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Election integrity advocates are calling for sweeping reforms after a new international report ranks Illinois near...