Supporters of the Massey family gather outside the Sangamon County courthouse the morning of Jan. 29 as the sentencing hearing for Sean Grayson begins. Credit: photo by Zach Adams, Illinois Times)
By DEAN OLSEN
ILLINOIS TIMES
dolsen@illinoistimes.com
A Sangamon County judge on Thursday gave former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson the maximum sentence — 20 years in prison — for the July 2024 murder of Sonya Massey, culminating a nationally publicized case that led to ongoing discussions and action locally to bridge racial divides.
A cheer went up in the courtroom and Donna Massey, Sonya’s mother, said, “Thank you God, thank you God,” as the hearing concluded.
Members of Massey’s family, who were calling for the maximum sentence possible and were disappointed with the jury’s second-degree murder verdict, said they considered the 20-year sentence a victory.
Cliff Jones, an investigator for the Ben Crump civil rights law firm, which represents the Massey family, said the sentence “represents another meaningful step towards justice for this family.”
He added, “This outcome confirms a critical principle, that no one is above the law, and unlawful use of force will carry meaningful consequences.”
The Crump law firm previously negotiated a $10 million dollar settlement for the Massey family from Sangamon County government to avoid a wrongful death lawsuit against the county.
Sonya Massey’s 16-year-old daughter, Summer, told the news media after the sentencing hearing that she was grateful for the sentence and grateful to prosecutors and others who sought justice for her late mother.
“Twenty years is not enough, but they did what they could do,” she said.
James Wilburn, Sonya Massey’s father, said he wants to see the Illinois General Assembly lengthen the maximum sentence for second-degree murder.
“But right now,” he said, “I’m just overwhelmed with joy. We prayed that this would happen.”
Family members of Grayson declined comment after the sentencing.
But after the decision by Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin, Sean Grayson could end up serving less than half of that time in prison. That’s because a Peoria County jury on Oct. 29 found the 31-year-old Riverton resident, originally charged with first-degree murder after the shooting death of Massey, 36, in her Woodside Township home, guilty of the lesser offense of second-degree murder.
Grayson, who is white, killed Massey, a Black, unarmed single mother of two teenagers, in a rapidly progressing confrontation over Grayson’s fear that Massey would harm him with a pot of hot water from the stove of her kitchen.
Grayson’s profanity-laced comments toward Massey, her soft-spoken yet firm comment, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” and Grayson’s fatal shot to Massey’s head were all captured on police-worn body camera video footage of the exchange. The footage went viral on the internet and was played to the jury at trial.
Grayson would have been ensured a prison sentence of 45 years to life if convicted of first-degree murder because of enhancements related to the use of a gun and state law requiring that defendants serve 100% of a sentence for certain crimes.
The jury decided that Grayson’s actions met the legal standard for first-degree murder but that his belief he was acting in self-defense – even though that belief was unreasonable – was a mitigating factor justifying a finding of second-degree murder.
With time already served behind bars and because the second-degree charge allows the sentence to be reduced by half for good behavior, Grayson could be released in about 8½ years.
Grayson’s lawyers, who recommended the judge give Grayson a six-year sentence, indicated they will appeal the sentence to a higher court.
One of the arguments for leniency made by Grayson attorney Mark Wykoff before sentencing was that a long incarceration would worsen Grayson’s medical conditions.
Wykoff said Grayson was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in 2023, and that since then, the cancer has spread to his liver and lungs. Wykoff said Grayson also has been diagnosed with rectal cancer.
But Judge Ryan Cadagin rejected Wykoff’s argument. Cadagin said no evidence was presented that the medical care Grayson would receive from the Illinois Department of Corrections would be less than he has been receiving while being held at the Sangamon County Jail.
Dressed in a black-and-white striped jail uniform, Grayson told Cadigan before sentencing was announced that he was sorry for his actions and for the trauma he caused the Massey family.
“I understand that they’re angry,” Grayson said. “I hope one day they can be forgiving.”
Harkening back to the early morning hours of July 6, 2024, inside Massey’s home, Grayson told the judge, “I was very unprofessional that night.”
Grayson said Massey didn’t deserve to be addressed in the way he spoke to her.
“I made a lot of mistakes that night,” he said. “I made terrible decisions. I’m very sorry.”
Cadagin denied Grayson’s request for a new trial after Grayson’s lawyers, Dan Fultz and Mark Wykoff, argued, among other things, that the judge erred in allowing the jury of nine women and three men to hear Grayson’s disparaging remarks about Massey after the shooting.
Grayson’s lawyers have the option of filing an appeal with a higher court in the coming weeks.
Massey’s death, and the ensuing protests in Springfield and in other cities, led to the formation locally of the Massey Commission.
The citizen group recently finalized a range of recommendations for improving relations with the public and the police, boosting services for people with mental illnesses, and reducing economic disparities between Blacks and whites.
