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AMERICANALMANAC (Alan Benson) - Sean Grayson, ex-deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, dies in prison after cancer spreads Mon Aug 24 18:15:31 2026

The former Illinois sheriff's deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her own kitchen, after she called 911 for help, died behind bars Saturday, just weeks after a state board denied his bid for early release. Sean Grayson, 32, died on August 23 while being held at an out-of-state prison facility, his defense attorney […] The post Sean Grayson, ex-deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey, dies in prison after cancer spreads appeared first on American Almanac .

The former Illinois sheriff's deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her own kitchen, after she called 911 for help, died behind bars Saturday, just weeks after a state board denied his bid for early release. Sean Grayson, 32, died on August 23 while being held at an out-of-state prison facility, his defense attorney Daniel Fultz confirmed. Fultz declined to provide further details. The Illinois Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the State Journal-Register reported . Grayson had served roughly six months of a 20-year sentence, the maximum for second-degree murder in Illinois, when he died. He had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, before the shooting that made his name…Open

JUSTTHENEWS (Kevin Killough) - Sean Grayson, former deputy who shot Sonya Massey, died in prison Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 2026

Grayson was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer in 2023, his attorney said in January, after Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder. By the time of the sentencing, the cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and spread throughout his body.

NEWSNATIONNOW (Molly Sweeney) - Sean Grayson, ex-deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey dies in prison: Lawyers Sun Aug 23 23:59:58 2026

Earlier this year, Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

JUSTTHENEWS (Kevin Killough) - Former deputy who shot Sonya Massey in her home in 2024 denied early release from 20-year sentence Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 2026

A medical professional who evaluated former deputy Sean Grayson as part of the early release application determined that his condition is "irreversible and incurable," and concluded that Grayson is likely to die in the next 18 months.