An Illinois judge recently sentenced former sheriff deputy Sean Grayson to a maximum of 20 years in prison for the murder of 36-year-old Sonya Massey.
Announced on Thursday, Judge Ryan Cadigan’s decision is considered the maximum penalty in the state due to the former Sangamon County Sheriff Deputy’s second-degree murder conviction. Under this conviction, a penalty of four to 20 years in prison could be imposed, but the sentence could be reduced through day-for-day credit for good behavior.
According to NBC News, the judge, who is of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court, addressed Grayson, maintaining that his “unreasonable rage needs to be deterred” through the sentencing. On the same day, Cadigan denied a motion filed in November by the defense asking for a new trial. The judge also denied a request for a shorter sentence due to Grayson’s colon cancer diagnosis.
At the sentencing, Grayson reportedly made a statement of his own, apologizing for Massey’s death.
“I was very unprofessional that night. She didn’t deserve to be yelled and cussed at and called names,” said Grayson. “Nobody deserves that.”
Both of Massey’s children were present at the sentencing, where they also provided statements. Malachi Hill Massey, 19, spoke of the “unimaginable” pain of losing his mother. Meanwhile, Summer Massey, 16, spoke of the damage that Grayson caused, highlighting how he does not “truly understand or care” about the extent of damage he’s done. In her statements, she also emphasized that 20 years in prison will never be enough for his actions.
“I’m thankful for all the love and support that everybody has come out and shown, and I’m grateful that we got the maximum sentence that we could,” said Summer per NBC. “Twenty years is not enough, but they did what … they could do.”
On July 6, 2024, Massey, an unarmed single mother with mental health issues, called the police because she believed there was a prowler outside her home. Through body camera footage, officials confirmed that Grayson and Sheriff’s Deputy Dawson Farley searched the perimeters before meeting with Massey at her door. The 36-year-old can be seen appearing confused and repeating the phrase “Please, God.”
Once they entered her house, Grayson told Farley to remove a pot that was boiling on the stove. Instead, Massey herself moved to the pot while teasing the deputies for moving back as she grabbed the boiling water and said, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”
In the moments after, Grayson took out his firearm, yelling at her to drop the pot. Massey did as instructed before ducking behind a counter and picking it up once more. As she was going to apologize, Grayson fired his gun, striking Massey three times. The 36-year-old died of a gunshot wound to the head.
Video footage confirmed that, as Massey lay bleeding, Grayson discouraged the second deputy from grabbing the medical kit, claiming that “she’s done’ and that “there’s nothing you [they] can do.” When he relented and brought back the kit, Grayson was told by emergency medical professionals that his help was not needed to which he promptly responded that he was “not even gonna waste the med stuff then.”
Massey’s murder led to nationwide protests and outcry for justice. In response, the state of Illinois passed the Sonya Massey Act. Signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, the law required that police departments do thorough background checks on officers before equipping them with firearms.
Prior to the murder, Grayson had two DUI convictions and had been written up multiple times for disobeying superiors, moving through six departments in four years.
Following his latest sentencing, Massey’s family is expected to take further action, seeking federal charges for the “violation of Sonya’s civil rights.”
