A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted in the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey was sentenced Thursday to the maximum term allowed under state law. Sean Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by two years of supervised probation after being found guilty of second-degree murder. Massey, a Black mother of two, was killed after calling 911 to report a possible prowler outside her home in Springfield. During sentencing, Grayson addressed the court and acknowledged wrongdoing for the first time. He said he made “terrible decisions” the night Massey was killed. “I was very unprofessional that night,” Grayson said. “She didn't deserve to be yelled at, cussed at, and called names. Nobody deserves that.” Ryan Cadigan of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois imposed the maximum sentence, citing the need for accountability. In explaining the ruling, Cadigan said Grayson’s conduct showed “that bit of unreasonable rage needs to be deterred.” A defense motion for a new trial, filed in November, was denied during the hearing. Massey’s children, Summer and Malakai, delivered victim impact statements in court. Summer Massey told the judge her life has been permanently changed by her mother’s death. “It does not feel like he truly understands or cares about the damage he has caused,” she said. Malakai Massey described his grief as overwhelming, saying, “My soul is ripped, it’s like a part of me is really dead.” Family members and supporters filled several rows inside the courtroom, while about 50 demonstrators gathered outside the Springfield courthouse, chanting Massey’s name. After the sentence was announced, some relatives reacted emotionally, with several standing and raising their fists. Grayson was convicted after jurors were instructed on second-degree murder as a lesser charge instead of first-degree murder. The sentencing range for second-degree murder in Illinois is four to 20 years. Under state law, Grayson may be eligible for day-for-day credit, potentially reducing the time served. Prosecutors requested the maximum sentence. Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser told the court, “If the max were more, we would ask for more.” Defense attorneys cited Grayson’s advanced cancer diagnosis in arguing for leniency. Massey’s death led to protests statewide and the passage of the Sonya Massey Act, which strengthened background check requirements for law enforcement hires in Illinois.

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