IL - Sonya Massey Shot To Death In Her Own Home by Sangamon County Deputy After Calling to Report a Prowler, Springfield 6 July 2024

[tlcya]

"It is obvious that the agreement between Sangamon County and the DOJ will not be adequately enforced, if it is enforced at all," DelGiorno wrote.

"The Massey Commission, the Massey family and the people of Sangamon County deserve the answers that a timely, thorough, and thoughtful investigation would yield."

Letter: Massey Commission should request independent investigation into sheriff's office

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Grayson was fired and charged with first-degree murder. He remains in jail and has pleaded not guilty

Family of Sonya Massey to receive $10 million settlement over fatal shooting by ex-deputy

The deputy who shot Massey was fired and charged with first-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

www.ky3.com

 

[tlcya]

The motion stated that, among other things, extensive media coverage of the case established "a prima facie showing of prejudice against (Grayson) by the inhabitants of Sangamon County such that a fair trial cannot be obtained without a change of place of trial."

Nearly "everyone is aware of and has an opinion on the matter and has discussed the case with fellow community members," the motion read.
Attorneys for Sean Grayson want his trial moved out of Sangamon County

I can't say the defense attorney is wrong MOO this case was and continues to be a big part of local conversation. Nobody I have spoken to doesn't know about it and all, including me, have very strong opinions already about Grayson's guilt.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In the motion filed to change the trial venue, Grayson's legal team said that coverage and community engagement in the case "has made it virtually impossible to empanel a fair and impartial jury in Sangamon County."

Sean Grayson wants murder trial moved out of Sangamon County

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The now former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy accused of shooting and killing a woman after responding to a 911 call for help wants his trial moved

www.wandtv.com

 

[tlcya]

Presiding Judge Ryan Cadagin has set April 8 to hear the motion for a change of place of trial, commonly known as a change of venue, filed by Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff, both of Springfield, on behalf of Sean P. Grayson.
Judge will hear motion to move Grayson's trial out of Sangamon County

 

[Cryptic]

Six different agencies in four years?

This is a clear case of 'passing the trash'.

After a vaguely similar case, Texas has tried to end "trash passing".

In Texas, LEOs who are fired three times for cause loose their licenses. The firings for cause must be reported to Austin. Instances of "resigned before actual termination" count as being fired for cause.

The law was put in place after a police officer with a history of sudden resignations, terminations etc. got into a romantic relationship with a woman in his final jurisdiction.

She breaks it off. He does not take "no" for an answer. Circumstantial evidence suggests he then contrived a series of attempted burglaries / stalking incidents around her home in the hopes that he could "intervene" and win her back.

What is known though is that he ends up shooting and killing the woman when a burglary / stalker response goes bad and the officer and the woman end up pointing weapons at each other.

 

[tlcya]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A Sangamon County judge decided the trial for a former Sangamon County deputy accused of shooting and killing Sonya Massey inside her home will move out of the county.
[snip]
His case will now be heard in Peoria County.
Trial of former deputy accused of killing Sonya Massey moved out of Sangamon County

 

[tlcya]

The trial of Sean Grayson, an officer involved in the shooting death of Massey, is set to begin on October 20 at 9 a.m
Sean Grayson's trial in Massey shooting case begins October 20

 

[tlcya]

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday regarding Sean Grayson's pre-trial release.

Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments on Sean Grayson's pre-trial release

No word on when that court may issue a ruling.

 

[tlcya]

Illinois House passes bill requiring stricter police hiring practices following Sonya Massey's murder

 

[tlcya]

A new pre-trial date has been set for former Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy Sean P. Grayson, who remains scheduled to stand trial on Oct. 20 for the murder of Sonya Massey.
[snip]
Grayson, who has pleaded not guilty in the case and remains jailed in Decatur, has a July 25 status hearing.
Ex-deputy in fatal Sonya Massey shooting gets a new pre-trial date

Sonya's teen son is graduating from my Alma Mater this weekend.

 

[sds71]

Pritzker signs bill requiring stricter police hiring practices in honor of Sonya Massey

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a monumental plan into law Tuesday to require law enforcement have stricter hiring practices following the murder of Sonya Massey.

www.wandtv.com

 

[tlcya]

the court has denied an application for extended media coverage of the trial. I wish it wasn't so, but I understand the reasoning behind the denial.

a motions hearing is scheduled for September 12th at 1:30. Judge has cautioned both sides to have all of their motions in prior to that hearing date. Several motions have been filed by prosecution and defense in the past several weeks.

The defense wishes to exclude expert testimony while the prosecution wishes to introduce prior bad acts including, but not limited to, Defendant abusing his power as a deputy to interfere with a child custody matter, and other prior bad acts committed while working for other LE departments. Prosecution wishes to exclude any mention of defendant's cancer diagnosis or treatment therefor.

I am most curious to see if the child custodial interference comes into trial since that situation involved family members of mine and their minor children.

https://www.clericusmagnus.com:8443/profoundui/start?pgm=EDOCS/WDI040CL&p1= SA&l1=3

 

[tlcya]

various motions regarding evidence that will or won't be allowed at trial were ruled upon last week.

Prosecution wanted: prior DUI info, high speed pursuit details from Grayson's prior department misconduct towards prior female, and the child custodial interference info - denied
They also wanted: his prior work history - Granted

Defense wanted to exclude: body cam footage from after the shooting - denied.
They also wanted to exclude: Defendant's prior military discharge info - granted
They wanted to include: dialogue from Massey's mother re mental health, Massey's texts, and events involving Massey from 12 hours prior to the shooting - denied

Judge rules on evidence in Sean Grayson trial ahead of October start date

 

[tlcya]

Grayson was in Sangamon County Court in Springfield on Oct. 2 for presumably his last pre-trial hearing. Handcuffed and clean shaven in a jail-issued uniform, Grayson sat between his attorneys, Daniel Fultz and Mark Wykoff, both of Springfield.
https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/cou...ead-of-first-degree-murder-trial/86413246007/

Trial is scheduled to begin on October 20, 2025

 

[tlcya]

https://www.wcia.com/news/illinois-...-of-killing-sonya-massey-opts-for-jury-trial/

 

[tlcya]

Sean Grayson appears in court for final time before trial begins in Peoria

 

[tlcya]

as we are a week from trial I wanted to share this timeline from the SJR (our local paper)

With the Sean Grayson trial on the brink, a timeline of the Sonya Massey shooting

 

[Tricia]

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