Sean Grayson, seeking medical release from his murder sentence, still
maintains Sonya Massey ‘attacked’ him
[July 31, 2026]
By Jerry Nowicki
SPRINGFIELD — The ex-Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy convicted of
murdering Sonya Massey in her kitchen is asking for medical release from
a state prison — and maintaining that Massey “attacked” him.
Sean Grayson’s case will go before the Illinois Prisoner Review Board on
Friday, less than six months into the 20-year prison sentence he
received after being convicted of second-degree murder in October.
He filed for release under the Joe Coleman Act in May, citing symptoms
of advanced colon cancer.
In his hand-written application, obtained by Capitol News Illinois via
the Freedom of Information Act, Grayson did not show remorse in his
description of the shooting, maintaining that Massey attacked him with a
pot of boiling water. He also did not check a box stating his condition
was likely to lead to his death in the next 18 months.
It’s standard process for the Illinois Department of Corrections to
conduct a medical examination following the receipt of an application
for release to determine eligibility. In this case, the medical
professional, whose name was redacted, did fill in the box that said
Grayson was likely to die within 18 months.
But, ultimately, whether Grayson is released will be up to a
three-person panel of the state’s Prisoner Review Board. A decision is
likely to come after the board meets Friday morning in Springfield,
according to the board’s spokesperson.
But if it was up to the state’s attorney who charged Grayson with murder
for the July 6, 2024, killing of Massey in Sangamon County, the former
deputy will remain in prison.
“Critically, Grayson had cancer when he committed this murder and his
medical condition was explicitly considered at sentencing,” Sangamon
County State’s Attorney John Milhiser said in a letter opposing
Grayson’s release. “To release Grayson under these circumstances would
be a miscarriage of justice and an insult to Sonya Massey’s memory and
family.”
Sonya Massey’s family also opposes the release.
“He’s a killer. I apologize that he must suffer, but he has to pay for
what he did,” Sontae Massey, Sonya Massey’s cousin, told Capitol News
Illinois last month.
Murder of Sonya Massey
Milhiser’s letter restates the facts of the case. Massey had called
police to report a potential prowler.
A video released after the shooting depicted Grayson and his partner
clearing the outside of the house and finding no prowler. Grayson was
accompanied by another deputy who had his body camera switched on
throughout the encounter. Grayson turned his on seconds after he fired
the lethal shots.
The pair at one point appeared ready to leave before Grayson continued
to engage Massey and they eventually entered her home to question her
further.
Massey had a pot of boiling water on the stove. Under Grayson’s
direction, Massey went to the stove to remove it.
“We don’t need a fire alarm here,” Grayson said as Massey went to remove
it.
As she did so a deputy backed away and Massey said, “I rebuke you in the
name of Jesus.”
Grayson responded, “I’ll f—ing shoot you right in the f—ing face” and
drew his gun.
Seconds later, per Milhiser’s letter, “Ms. Massey proclaims that she is
“sorry” and drops to the floor. Grayson approaches Ms. Massey and
ultimately discharges his weapon three times.”
One shot struck Massey’s head and ultimately killed her.
Milhiser wrote that because Grayson had cancer at that time, he can’t
argue the condition makes him less dangerous.
“His temper and willingness to escalate minor misunderstandings into
fatal encounters shows that he poses a danger to any person he comes
into contact with,” Milhiser wrote in the letter.
In his application, Grayson did not show remorse in describing the
offense for which he was convicted.
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Body camera video depicts former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy
Sean Grayson seconds before he shot and killed Sonya Massey in her
kitchen. Within that image, Grayson’s hand-written note shows his
description of the encounter. (Capitol News Illinois illustration by
Jerry Nowicki, document obtained via FOIA request)
“The female Sony Massey invited me inside,” he wrote by hand, appearing
to misspell Massey’s first name. “While inside she attacked me with a
pot of boiling water and I fatally shot Mrs. Massey.”
Milhiser’s letter pointed out there was a kitchen island and several
feet between the pair when Grayson fired. And that Grayson discouraged
his fellow deputy from rendering aid.
As he exited the home, Grayson was greeted by several other officers.
“Yeah, I’m ok. This f—ing b—h is crazy,” he said to his colleagues.
Medical release request
At the time of the shooting, Grayson stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 225
pounds. At his trial last October, he appeared to have lost between 40
and 50 pounds and appeared gaunt.
Doctors diagnosed Grayson with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, the year
prior to the shooting. His attorney Mark Wykoff told the judge at his
sentencing in January that the cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and
spread to his liver and lungs.
The Joe Coleman Act applies to people in custody who are terminally ill
or medically incapacitated, meaning they have a condition that won’t
improve and prevents them from completing daily living tasks without
assistance.
Grayson checked the lines saying his condition would incapacitate him
within six months and that he had become incapacitated since his
sentencing. The medical professional also checked the boxes saying
Grayson would be incapacitated within six months and his condition was
unlikely to improve.
But the medical professional checked “No” to all eight questions in a
series aimed at discerning whether the condition in any way limits
Grayson’s daily activities. For example, they responded the condition
doesn’t prevent Grayson from dressing, feeding, moving, controlling his
bowels or cleaning himself.
Friday’s hearing
Grayson did not request a public hearing, meaning neither he nor a
representative will attend Friday’s release hearing, according to a PRB
spokesperson. Members of the Massey family, as registered victims, would
have the opportunity to testify publicly in the hearing if they wish,
according to the spokesperson.
After the hearing, the board will confer privately in a closed session
and then announce their decision publicly Friday, according to the
spokesperson.
While the medical examiner’s application determines eligibility for
release, the decision is at the sole discretion of the Prisoner Review
Board.
Under the statute, the PRB can consider the diagnosis and likelihood of
recovery, the potential cost of healthcare if there is continued
incarceration, the impact that may have on the provision of medical care
throughout IDOC, the present likelihood of and ability to pose a danger,
and victim statements.
Milhiser argued Grayson is still a danger to the public — a factor the
PRB may also weigh, under statute.
“Grayson’s medical condition and the cost of incarceration were
considered—and rejected—by the sentencing judge,” Milhiser wrote.
Capitol News Illinois reporter Beth Hundsdorfer
contributed to this report.
Capitol News Illinois is
a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state
government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is
funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R.
McCormick Foundation.
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