Illinois Prisoner Review Board denies early release for Sean Grayson
Jul 31, 2026 | 2:05 pm ET
Description
Protesters outside the Illinois Prisoner Review Board building in Springfield call for rejecting early release of former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Peter Hancock)
SPRINGFIELD – Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson will remain in prison, at least for the time being.
The Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously Friday to deny Grayson’s application for compassionate release.
Grayson is serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder for the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman who had called authorities to report a possible prowler outside her home.
He had applied for release under Illinois’ Joe Coleman Act, citing his diagnosis of advanced cancer.
But the PRB denied that request following a hearing at which members of Massey’s family testified. They argued that Grayson’s condition was taken into account when he was sentenced in October and that he continues to show no remorse for his actions.
This story will be updated.
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Springfield, IL
