The former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy has received the maximum sentence for the death of Sonya Massey in 2024.
In July 2024, 36-year-old Sonya Massey was fatally shot in her Springfield, Illinois home by Sean Grayson, who was a deputy for the Sangamon County Sheriff’s office at the time. Massey had contacted the police due to concerns about a potential intruder.
Body cam footage of the incident was widely shared on social media, leading to public outrage over Grayson’s actions. In the footage, Grayson can be seen inside Massey’s home, indicating a pot of boiling water on the stove and instructing her to “walk away from your hot steaming water.”
Massey is then seen pouring the water into the sink while saying, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson threatened to shoot her, prompting Massey to apologize and take cover behind a counter, shielding her face with an oven mitt. As she briefly stood up, Grayson fired three shots, striking her in the face.
On Thursday, January 29, Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder in October 2025.
During his testimony, Grayson claimed he feared Massey would throw the hot water on him, causing him to act out of fear. Before his sentencing, Grayson expressed remorse to Massey’s family. According to a WICS report, he stated: “I wish there was something I could do to bring her back. I wish this didn’t happen. I wish they [Massey’s family] didn’t have to go through this experience. I am very sorry.”
Addressing the judge, Grayson added: “There were points when I should’ve acted, and I didn’t — I froze. I made terrible decisions that night. I’m sorry.”
Cliff Jones, the family’s attorney, spoke following the verdict, acknowledging that no sentence could compensate for the loss experienced by the family.
He told reporters: “Obviously this is an emotional moment of victory for this family. Today’s sentence for Sean Grayson represents another meaningful step towards justice for this family. While no sentence can ever restore what was taken from Sonya’s family or undo the harm that this horrific act has done to this community, this outcome affirms a critical principle that no one is above the law.”
Prior to the sentencing, the judge denied Grayson’s request for a new trial.