PEORIA, Ill. (WAND) – The murder trial for Sean Grayson, charged with shooting and killing Sonya Massey, begins Monday morning in Peoria.
Former Sangamon County Deputy Sean Grayson faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct for the July 6, 2024, shooting of Massey, 36, who police said had called 911 to report a suspected prowler.
Another Sangamon County deputy, whose name has not been released, responded to the call with Grayson. That deputy's body camera recorded their interactions with Massey.
Her death sparked protests, calls for justice and prompted changes within the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department.
John Rekowski, a former long-serving Illinois public defender, sat down with WAND News ahead of the high-profile trial. He explained that the challenges surrounding this case are not just fought in the courtroom, but also in the court of public opinion.
"A high-profile case presents a unique challenge to both the prosecution and the defense," Rekowski said.
For that reason, Grayson's attorney, Mark Wykoff, filed a motion to move the trial out of Springfield. He argued that too many people were familiar with the case and that both Massey and Grayson had strong ties to the community. Because of that, he believed Grayson could not receive a fair trial.
In April 2025, the judge ruled in favor of Wykoff's motion, moving the trial to Peoria County. That means 12 jurors from Peoria County will decide Grayson's fate after the closing arguments.
Rekowski believes both the prosecution and defense can still find a fair and impartial jury.
"That doesn't mean they come in without any knowledge," Rekowski said. "But at least they are able to not have preconceived notions—or they can set those aside—the further you get away from the scene."
When selecting a jury, Rekowski recalled his own time in the courtroom, saying he expects both attorneys to ask jurors about their level of education, whether they have family members with mental health issues, or whether they have relatives who are police officers. Attorneys expect jury selection to last two days.
Once seated, jurors will hear from occurrence witnesses—people who were on scene or helped process the crime scene. Rekowski expects law enforcement experts to testify about police training and education.
"You're going to be delving into the state of mind, and part of that is the training of the officers," he said.
During Grayson's last hearing on Oct. 2 in Sangamon County, the Massey family told WAND News they are hoping the jury watches the video and that they finally get the outcome they've been seeking since July 2024.
"The right thing will always come out," said Sontae Massey, Sonya's cousin. "We know that God answers our prayers."
Jury selection begins Monday morning in Peoria. The trial is expected to last two weeks.
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