Former deputy convicted of murdering Sonya Massey denied early launch

Sean Grayson, the previous Illinois sheriff’s deputy who was convicted of second-degree homicide within the deadly 2024 capturing of Sonya Massey, was on Friday unanimously denied early launch by a prisoner evaluation board.

“I’m writing to substantiate that the Board voted 3-0 to disclaim Sean Grayson’s medical launch software,” an Illinois Prisoner Evaluate Board spokesperson mentioned in an announcement to ABC Information. “He’ll stay in custody.”

Grayson, who served in Sangamon County, had requested for an early launch as a result of he has stage 4 colon most cancers. He was sentenced to twenty years in jail in January, after his conviction final October.

The Sangamon County State’s Lawyer’s workplace had additionally opposed Grayson’s launch, saying he was identified with stage 4 most cancers earlier than the capturing and his mood might pose a danger to the general public.

Sonya Massey’s cousin, Sontae Massey, informed ABC Information in an interview after the board’s announcement that the household is relieved, however mentioned the household has to “keep on guard.”

“We’ll take these small victories, however we all know we have got an uphill battle forward of us as a result of he can flip round and he can apply repeatedly and once more. I believe that he is not going to cease till he’s out,” Sontae Massey mentioned. “We’ve to be sure that he’s denied every time.”

The previous Sangamon County deputy fatally shot Sonya Massey, 36, in July 2024 after she referred to as 911 to report a potential intruder at her house in Springfield, Illinois.

Massey’s household informed ABC Information on Thursday that they fought for him to remain behind bars.

“I do not assume I’ve seen someday because the day she died that I have not cried,” Donna Massey, Sonya Massey’s mom, mentioned. “I’ve by no means been depressed earlier than. Now, I am depressed on a regular basis, particularly once they hold dragging us by way of the mud.”

Sonya Massey’s son, Malachi Massey, echoed his grandmother’s sentiments within the household’s interview with ABC Information.

“It isn’t registering with me why he would need compassion as a result of, like, say as an example, roles was reversed, or like, I used to be in his sneakers, would he need compassion for us? No, he wouldn’t,” he mentioned. “And did he have compassion for my mom all through that complete time? No, he didn’t.”

In line with physique digital camera footage from Grayson’s associate on the evening of the capturing, Grayson, who was inside Massey’s house, requested her to show off a pot of boiling water on the range. As soon as she was close to the range, he pointed to the pot and mentioned, “stroll away out of your scorching steaming water.”

Massey then appeared to pour the water into the sink and repeated the deputy’s phrase earlier than saying, “I rebuke you within the identify of Jesus,” in keeping with the video.

Grayson threatened to shoot her and Massey apologized earlier than ducking down behind a counter and overlaying her face with what seemed to be a pink oven mitt, the video reveals. As she briefly rose, Grayson shot her thrice within the face, the footage reveals.

“Three photographs is intent to kill,” Donna Massey mentioned within the interview with ABC Information. “One shot, perhaps he might get away with, however three photographs is intent to kill, and he doesn’t should be operating round right here.”

The previous deputy mentioned in courtroom testimony that after he requested her to show off the range with the pot of boiling water, he thought she was threatening him and was going to throw the water at him.

Attorneys for the Massey household claimed she was experiencing a psychological well being disaster and posed no risk.

In his handwritten request for launch to the Illinois Jail Evaluate Board, which Capitol Information Illinois reported they obtained by way of the Freedom of Info Act, Grayson maintained Massey attacked him. 

The footage launched by Illinois State Police reveals the incident from the associate’s perspective as a result of Grayson didn’t flip his personal physique digital camera on till after the capturing, in keeping with courtroom paperwork reviewed by ABC Information.

ABC Information’ Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.