Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was serving a 20-year prison sentence for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey . Grayson had been battling stage 4 colon cancer and had recently been denied early medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. His attorney confirmed on Sunday that Grayson died in custody.
Authorities said Grayson did not activate his own body camera until after the shooting, so the incident was captured primarily on his partner’s camera. The attorney did not immediately disclose the cause or circumstances of Grayson’s death. His passing comes weeks after the review board unanimously rejected his request for compassionate release, ruling that he would remain behind bars despite his terminal illness. Moments later, he fired three shots, killing her.
They also extended condolences to Grayson’s family 2. In October 2025, a jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder in Massey’s death. He was sentenced in January 2026 to 20 years in prison.
During the trial, Grayson testified that he believed Massey was going to throw boiling water at him and said he feared for his safety. Sean Grayson’s death in custody from cancer does not bring Sonya back. He was convicted of murdering Sonya Massey. His attorneys argued he reacted to a perceived threat.
In a joint statement after news of his death, civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who represent the Massey family, said, “Sonya Massey’s death was unjustifiable, and she should be alive today.
