Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has died in prison.
Grayson was handling a burglary call in July 2024 when he fatally shot Sonya Massey in her home in unincorporated Springfield. A Peoria County jury convicted Grayson of second-degree murder last October. He was sentenced to the maximum of 20 years in prison in January.
One of Grayson’s attorneys, Daniel Fultz, confirmed to the State Journal-Register that Grayson died on Sunday morning. Grayson was being held out of state.
Grayson was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023. The cancer later spread and advanced to Stage 4.
An Illinois Prisoner Review Board panel denied early release for Grayson for medical reasons on July 31.
