Sonya Massey’s killer – a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy – was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday for an incident that started when Massey called authorities to report a possible prowler.
The sentence, described by Massey’s father James Wilburn of Pine Bluff as one of the longest on record in the United States involving a law enforcement officer, gave Massey’s family somewhat of a sense of closure, although some said they wanted a longer sentence for Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson, 31.
“I am satisfied as much as I can be,” said Wilburn, who attended the sentencing along with his two daughters and Massey’s two children, among other family members. “That’s the most he could get for second-degree murder.”
In the early morning hours of July 6, 2024, Massey, 36, called 911 to say that she thought a prowler was outside her home in Springfield. Grayson and another deputy sheriff, who was not charged, went to Massey’s home. The situation inside escalated quickly with Massey being told to put a pot down a pot of water and then being shot in the face and killed when she refused.
Grayson was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, but the jury convicted him on the lesser charge, which disappointed the family.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“I believe the maximum sentence was because she was an unarmed Black woman,” Wilburn said between interviews at the courthouse in Springfield. “With most law enforcement officers in this situation, they get away with it.”
Massey’s two children, Malachi Hill Massey, 19, and Summer Massey, 16, spoke at the sentencing hearing. Malachi said his sister had prepared written remarks but that he “spoke from the heart” because he would have otherwise become too emotional.
“I went up there and told them exactly how I felt,” he said. “I don’t like to cry so I did my best to hold it together. I spoke about how this has impacted me. I told them the real, honest truth, that what happened to my mother was unbelievable and really is wrong. My sister and I, we just live day by day.”
In February 2025, the family agreed to a $10 million settlement with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office that was equally split between Massey’s two children. Wilburn said at the time the family could have held out for more but that nothing was guaranteed.
“…(T)here’s nothing to say that he will be convicted,” said Wilburn, who lived and worked in San Diego and then retired to Pine Bluff several years ago. “That county has no insurance. They have a contingency account of $12 million so we set the amount at $10 million and they agreed after kicking and screaming. We could have waited, but we didn’t want to take our chances with 12 people in a box. We could have gotten old farmers who don’t feel that Black lives are worth anything.”
Grayson was convicted in October, leading to Thursday’s sentencing.
The family was represented by attorney Ben Crump, well known civil rights and personal injury attorney. Crump’s office released a statement after the sentencing:
“Today’s sentence of 20 years in prison affirms a critical truth: no one is above the law. While no amount of time behind bars can ever restore Sonya Massey’s life or ease her family’s unimaginable grief, this sentence represents an important step toward accountability for a senseless and devastating loss.”
As the murder case was being investigated, it was revealed that Grayson had worked for six departments in four years and that he had had two convictions for driving under the influence. After the first conviction, he was kicked out of the Army. And reporting by Capitol News Illinois discovered that other sheriff’s deputies had similar problems and were still employed by the sheriff’s office.
Wilburn said at the time that there were enough “red flags” that Grayson “should never have had a badge and a gun.”
“They kept sliding this guy under the door and hiring him,” Wilburn said. “This Illinois bill should echo all across the country. Agencies hire people like this to save money because they don’t have to pay for someone to go through the police academy. Well, they didn’t save any money by hiring this person. If Illinois is the bellwether state on this, then let them be it.”
The Illinois bill Wilburn referenced was made law in the state and went into effect Jan. 1. The new law, named the Sonya Massey Law, aims to strengthen police hiring standards by preventing the hiring officers with questionable records.
Wilburn said he believes Grayson should now be charged in federal court for violating Massey’s civil rights. He said he doubts that will take place under the current political environment, given that the Trump Administration has virtually dismantled the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Wilburn said also that it was revealed that Grayson has late stage colon cancer that has spread to his liver and lungs. “So he’s probably not going to be around a lot longer anyway,” Wilburn said, adding that Grayson will have to serve about half of the 20 year sentence.
