The former Illinois deputy accused of fatally shooting Sonya Massey last month will remain in custody, as a judge decided on Friday, rejecting his plea for release due to medical needs, including colon cancer treatment.
On the same day, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, under increasing scrutiny, announced his retirement effective August 31, acknowledging that his ability to lead had been compromised.
Judge denies bail for Sean Grayson, citing serious public safety risks
Judge Ryan M. Cadagin ruled that Sean Grayson, the ex-Sangamon County deputy charged with first-degree murder for the July 6 shooting, posed too serious a risk for electronic monitoring to ensure public safety. More than 20 members of Massey’s family attended the hearing, and their applause following the decision led the judge to request silence.
Grayson’s legal team had filed a motion asking for reconsideration of the judge’s earlier decision to deny bail, citing inadequate medical care at Menard County Jail. However, the judge emphasized that Grayson still represented a serious threat despite no longer being employed as a deputy, noting that his medical condition did not mitigate this danger.
Grayson’s defense argued that all weapons had been removed from his home and that he posed no threat to Massey’s family. Despite this, the court remained unconvinced, citing Grayson’s troubling remarks before and after the incident as evidence of his ongoing danger to society.
Sheriff Campbell, bowing to public pressure, stated his commitment to preventing similar tragedies in the future but acknowledged that the demands for his resignation were insurmountable.
