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

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

January 29, 2026/
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

Debt burden, pensions burden Chicago Public Schools

Debt burden, pensions burden Chicago Public Schools

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The author of a new Civic Federation report says taking on more debt would be a death...
Nearly 100,000 Illinois Uber, Lyft drivers may soon be able to unionize

Nearly 100,000 Illinois Uber, Lyft drivers may soon be able to unionize

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A proposal that would allow many Uber and Lyft drivers to form a sector-wide union and engage...
Michigan lawmakers spar over Rx Kids program amid oversight concerns

Michigan lawmakers spar over Rx Kids program amid oversight concerns

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan lawmakers are sparring over the future of the state's Rx Kids program, a cash-assistance initiative that has received more than $300 million in taxpayer...
GOP rep: New budget shows 'addiction' to taxes

GOP rep: New budget shows ‘addiction’ to taxes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois’ new budget for fiscal year 2027 protects working families from new taxes,...
Retirees face $5,500 average cut to annual Social Security benefits in 2032

Retirees face $5,500 average cut to annual Social Security benefits in 2032

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Over 60 million Americans could see their monthly Social Security checks slashed by $500 on average starting in 2032, according to a new report analyzing...
Illinois Quick Hits: Comptroller Mendoza announces run for Chicago mayor

Illinois Quick Hits: Comptroller Mendoza announces run for Chicago mayor

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is running for mayor of Chicago. Mendoza said in a campaign video released...
Georgia doctors face scrutiny as they cozy up to injury lawyers

Georgia doctors face scrutiny as they cozy up to injury lawyers

By Daniel Fisher | Legal NewslineThe Center Square The Instagram post shows Georgia personal-injury attorney Harris Weinstein, aka “The Georgia Pitbull,” smiling with Dr. Amin Oskouei, owner of Ortho Sport...
Wiener, Gallagher, Gray lead in congressional races

Wiener, Gallagher, Gray lead in congressional races

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square As results poured in for several congressional races Tuesday night, incumbent U.S. Rep. Adam Gray, California Assemblymember James Gallagher and California state Sen. Scott Wiener...
Waters, other incumbents ahead in LA congressional races

Waters, other incumbents ahead in LA congressional races

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Democratic incumbents topped the vote counts in Los Angeles congressional districts in Tuesday's primary. U.S. House District 43 U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Inglewood, got the...
Desmond, Wilpert ahead in District 48 race to succeed Issa

Desmond, Wilpert ahead in District 48 race to succeed Issa

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Republican Jim Desmond has a big lead in the race for California Congressional District 48. The race will decide who replaces U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa....
Candidates advance in redrawn congressional districts

Candidates advance in redrawn congressional districts

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Several candidates across altered congressional districts in California are projected to head to November’s general election. California voters passed Proposition 50, a measure that altered...
Kiley, Pan neck to neck in Congressional District 6 race

Kiley, Pan neck to neck in Congressional District 6 race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Rocklin, has a slight edge over the competition in the race for Congressional District 6 in California. Kiley emerged with 24.9%...
Bass, Pratt lead Los Angeles mayoral race

Bass, Pratt lead Los Angeles mayoral race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Republican candidate Spencer Pratt could be headed for a runoff in November in a race that is getting national...
Becerra, Hilton to face each other in gubernatorial race

Becerra, Hilton to face each other in gubernatorial race

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra apparently will square off in the Nov. 3 general election for governor of California, according to unofficial results...
Miller-Meeks, Bohannan to face off again in November

Miller-Meeks, Bohannan to face off again in November

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters across Iowa selected partisan candidates on Tuesday night in races that could determine control of Congress. U.S. Rep. Mariannette-Miller Meeks will face off against...