Former Illinois deputy convicted of murder dies while serving sentence

Sean Grayson, a former deputy of the Illinois sheriff’s office, died in prison on Sunday, his lawyer Daniel Fultz reported. Grayson was serving a 20-year term for second-degree murder after being convicted in 2025 for the 2024 shooting of Sonya Massey, who had called 911 to report a prowler.

According to court testimony, Grayson responded to the emergency call, entered Massey's home, and fired three shots after alleging she threatened to throw boiling water at him. Prosecutors said he did not provide medical assistance, and Massey was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Grayson, 32, had been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, a fact noted at his sentencing. He was denied a medical release by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board in July. It remains unclear whether the cancer directly caused his death.

The case had drawn public attention, with body-camera footage of the incident released during the trial.