Sean Grayson receives maximum sentence for murder of Sonya Massey
[January 30, 2026]
By DEAN OLSEN
ILLINOIS TIMES
dolsen@illinoistimes.com
A Sangamon County judge on Thursday gave former Sangamon County
Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson the maximum sentence — 20 years in prison
— for the July 2024 murder of Sonya Massey, culminating a nationally
publicized case that led to ongoing discussions and action locally to
bridge racial divides.
A cheer went up in the courtroom and Donna Massey, Sonya’s mother, said,
“Thank you God, thank you God,” as the hearing concluded.
Members of Massey’s family, who were calling for the maximum sentence
possible and were disappointed with the jury’s second-degree murder
verdict, said they considered the 20-year sentence a victory.
Cliff Jones, an investigator for the Ben Crump civil rights law firm,
which represents the Massey family, said the sentence “represents
another meaningful step towards justice for this family.”
He added, “This outcome confirms a critical principle, that no one is
above the law, and unlawful use of force will carry meaningful
consequences.”
The Crump law firm previously negotiated a $10 million dollar settlement
for the Massey family from Sangamon County government to avoid a
wrongful death lawsuit against the county.
Sonya Massey’s 16-year-old daughter, Summer, told the news media after
the sentencing hearing that she was grateful for the sentence and
grateful to prosecutors and others who sought justice for her late
mother.
“Twenty years is not enough, but they did what they could do,” she said.
James Wilburn, Sonya Massey’s father, said he wants to see the Illinois
General Assembly lengthen the maximum sentence for second-degree murder.
“But right now,” he said, “I’m just overwhelmed with joy. We prayed that
this would happen.”
Family members of Grayson declined comment after the sentencing.
But after the decision by Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin, Sean Grayson could
end up serving less than half of that time in prison. That’s because a
Peoria County jury on Oct. 29 found the 31-year-old Riverton resident,
originally charged with first-degree murder after the shooting death of
Massey, 36, in her Woodside Township home, guilty of the lesser offense
of second-degree murder.
Grayson, who is white, killed Massey, a Black, unarmed single mother of
two teenagers, in a rapidly progressing confrontation over Grayson’s
fear that Massey would harm him with a pot of hot water from the stove
of her kitchen.
Grayson’s profanity-laced comments toward Massey, her soft-spoken yet
firm comment, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” and Grayson’s fatal
shot to Massey’s head were all captured on police-worn body camera video
footage of the exchange. The footage went viral on the internet and was
played to the jury at trial.
Grayson would have been ensured a prison sentence of 45 years to life if
convicted of first-degree murder because of enhancements related to the
use of a gun and state law requiring that defendants serve 100% of a
sentence for certain crimes.
The jury decided that Grayson’s actions met the legal standard for
first-degree murder but that his belief he was acting in self-defense –
even though that belief was unreasonable – was a mitigating factor
justifying a finding of second-degree murder.
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This booking photo provided by the Macon County, Ill., Jail in
January 2025, shows Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff's
deputy who is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death
of Sonya Massey on July 6, 2024, in Springfield, Ill. (Macon County
Jail via AP, File)
With time already served behind bars and because the second-degree
charge allows the sentence to be reduced by half for good behavior,
Grayson could be released in about 8˝ years.
Grayson’s lawyers, who recommended the judge give Grayson a six-year
sentence, indicated they will appeal the sentence to a higher court.
One of the arguments for leniency made by Grayson attorney Mark
Wykoff before sentencing was that a long incarceration would worsen
Grayson’s medical conditions.
Wykoff said Grayson was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in
2023, and that since then, the cancer has spread to his liver and
lungs. Wykoff said Grayson also has been diagnosed with rectal
cancer.
But Judge Ryan Cadagin rejected Wykoff’s argument. Cadagin said no
evidence was presented that the medical care Grayson would receive
from the Illinois Department of Corrections would be less than he
has been receiving while being held at the Sangamon County Jail.
Dressed in a black-and-white striped jail uniform, Grayson told
Cadigan before sentencing was announced that he was sorry for his
actions and for the trauma he caused the Massey family.
“I understand that they’re angry,” Grayson said. “I hope one day
they can be forgiving.”
Harkening back to the early morning hours of July 6, 2024, inside
Massey’s home, Grayson told the judge, “I was very unprofessional
that night.”
Grayson said Massey didn’t deserve to be addressed in the way he
spoke to her.
“I made a lot of mistakes that night,” he said. “I made terrible
decisions. I’m very sorry.”
Cadagin denied Grayson’s request for a new trial after Grayson’s
lawyers, Dan Fultz and Mark Wykoff, argued, among other things, that
the judge erred in allowing the jury of nine women and three men to
hear Grayson’s disparaging remarks about Massey after the shooting.
Grayson’s lawyers have the option of filing an appeal with a higher
court in the coming weeks.
Massey’s death, and the ensuing protests in Springfield and in other
cities, led to the formation locally of the Massey Commission.
The citizen group recently finalized a range of recommendations for
improving relations with the public and the police, boosting
services for people with mental illnesses, and reducing economic
disparities between Blacks and whites.
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