Court has adjourned for Tuesday. This blog will start up again around 9 a.m. Wednesday.
PEORIA, Ill. (WAND) - The murder trial of Sean Grayson, the former sheriff's deputy accused of shooting and killing Sonya Massey inside her Sangamon County home in 2024, started Monday in Peoria.
Grayson is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.
Below are updates throughout the trial from inside the courtroom. Make sure to refresh this page for new updates.
Day 2 concludes
9:55 a.m. Tuesday, October 21 — Carlee Bronkema
The court heard arguments regarding evidence and expert witnesses. Motions filed brought into consideration what specific terms can be used in the witness box. Those terms are reasonable or unreasonable; justified or unjustified; and lawful or unlawful.
Both attorneys agreed that they would set parameters for their witnesses to not use these terms. Daniel Fultz, an attorney for Sean Grayson, told the court we will “have clear conversations with our experts.”
Both sides frequently referred to the case Graham v. Connor. This is a case frequently used to say excessive use of force can be analyzed through the Fourth Amendment within the legal system. Both sides agreed to not specifically cite the case, but to use the principles of the case as they’ve been used in many previous cases.
While there were motions filed, both attorneys made agreements about those motions. Judge Cadagin said he would consider the rulings regarding expert witnesses and allowed phrases and topics as “reserved.” This means an agreement was made between the parties, but if an issue comes up during the testimony, the attorneys can discuss further with the judge.
Court only lasted 43 minutes. It adjourned for the day and will start again tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.
Grayson looked confused as attorneys argued on specifics. Mark Wykoff repeatedly placed his hand on Grayson’s shoulder as he referred to him.
Day 2 begins
9:10 a.m. Tuesday, October 21 — Carlee Bronkema
Day 2 of the trial has started. Sean Grayson is in the courtroom today in a black suit and is clean shaven. He is wearing glasses and is visually engaged in the conversation between attorneys.
Sonya’s father, James Wilburn, is in court again this morning. He is joined by two others people.
Today we expect both sides to argue regarding the timeliness of motions that were filed. They also will likely discuss motions regarding expert witnesses and the evidence allowed in court.
Opening statements scheduled for Wednesday
5:00 p.m. Monday, October 20 — WAND News Digital Team
The jury has been dismissed and told to return Wednesday for opening statements that are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Tuesday morning, the judge will hear several motions on evidence and other issues.
Court is adjourned until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Jury selection wraps up
4:40 p.m. Monday, October 20 — WAND News Digital Team
The jury of 12 has been selected along with three alternates.
The makeup of the jury includes nine women and three men. 11 of them are white and one is Black.
The three alternates include two white men and one white woman.
The judge has given the jury several rules; including social media use, not researching the case, or talking about the trial.
Defense questions potential jurors
4:20 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Daniel Fultz, one of Sean Grayson’s attorneys, spoke with the fourth group of potential jurors regarding the importance of sharing anything that could impact their ability to be fair jurors.
Fultz turned his attention to follow ups on the questionnaire the potential jurors were sent as well as the questions asked by Milhiser. This included questions about what jurors had connections to law enforcement or attorneys.
A recess was called for attorneys to make jury selections and the potential jurors left the courtroom. The attorneys held four jurors back to ask them follow up questions in private.
Grayson smiled at the jury when potential jurors made jokes about an upcoming vacation.
State's Attorney questions potential jurors
4:00 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
State’s Attorney John Milhiser’s questions were similar to what he asked the previous groups of potential jurors. He asked potential jurors to disclose any connections with law enforcement. He asked them if they had any reluctance to vote on a guilty verdict for a former law enforcement officer. Two potential jurors said they would not be able to deliver a verdict fairly because they had family who worked in law enforcement.
Fourth round of potential jurors enter courtroom
3:45 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Court has restarted. 12 new potential jurors have been called.
Presiding Circuit Judge of Sangamon County Ryan M. Cadagin is questioning jurors about their knowledge of the case. Several of the potential jurors acknowledged they had heard about this case prior to entering the building today.
Each potential juror was asked about their marital status, education, and career. They were asked about their spouse’s and adult children’s employment. They also were asked if they had ever been involved in a lawsuit or served on a jury.
Jury almost selected
3:30 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
12 jurors have been selected for the trial. A second group of 12 potential have been called into the courtroom to select alternates.
Defense questions potential jurors
2:50 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Daniel Fultz, one of Sean Grayson’s attorneys, spoke with the third group of potential jurors regarding the importance of sharing anything that could impact their ability to be fair jurors. He said jurors needed to be fully confident that they could be fair and impartial.
Fultz turned his attention to follow ups on the questionnaire the potential jurors were sent. This included questions about what jurors had connections to law enforcement and if they would be distracted by their job during the trial.
While asking questions, both Fultz and Millhiser agreed to a short recess and the potential jurors left the courtroom. The attorneys held two jurors back to ask them follow up questions.
James Wilburn, Sonya Massey’s father, is still the only family member present in the courtroom.
State's Attorney questions potential jurors
2:35 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
State’s Attorney John Milhiser’s questions were similar to what he asked the first and second groups of potential jurors, or based on facts they shared. He asked potential jurors to disclose any connections with law enforcement. He asked them if they had any reluctance to vote on a guilty verdict for a former law enforcement officer. Three potential jurors said they would not be able to deliver a verdict fairly because they had family who worked in law enforcement.
Milhiser asked the jury if they felt they would be able to judge others fairly. He additionally asked if anyone was concerned about the fairness of judging a law enforcement officer’s use of force. One juror said they could not fairly judge the actions of an officer after the fact.
Five jurors said they didn’t believe they were the right person to be on the jury or could not be fair.
Court is in recess
2:15 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
The courtroom has taken several short breaks and they haven’t provided any details on why this has occurred. We are in one of those breaks now.
Demonstrators continue to walk around the courthouse.
Jury selection continues with third group of potentials
2:00 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Court has restarted. 12 new potential jurors have been called.
Presiding Circuit Judge of Sangamon County Ryan M. Cadagin is questioning jurors about their knowledge of the case. Several of the12 potential jurors acknowledged they had heard about this case through the news. Two said they were influenced by the news and did not believe they could be fair and impartial.
Two jurors also said they knew other potential jurors and did not believe they would fairly weigh the opinions of all on the jury if the person they knew was also selected.
Each potential juror was asked about their marital status, education, and career. They were asked about their spouse’s and adult children’s employment. They also were asked if they had ever been involved in a lawsuit or served on a jury.
Eight people selected as jurors
1:30 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Court has resumed.
Of the 12 jurors in the second section, two were chosen to stay as the jury. The two jurors from the first round that were held, were also officially added to the jury. This brings the jury total up to eight.
Seven of the jurors from the second round were dismissed. Three jurors from the second section will remain potential jurors, although they were not selected in this round.
Court in recess
12:55 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Daniel Fultz has asked jurors if they have any time constraints for the next 7 to 8 days. He asks if there is any reason they cannot give their full attention to the case or cannot stay for the full time.
After questioning, Judge Cadagin recessed the potential jurors and told them that once back from recess they would know if they had been selected or dismissed. The attorneys and judge took one potential juror to the back to talk further.
Court is recessed for 20 minutes.
Defense questions potential jurors
12:45 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Daniel Fultz, one of Sean Grayson’s attorneys, spoke with the second group of potential jurors regarding the importance of sharing anything that could impact their ability to be fair jurors.
He questioned the group regarding their response to a questionnaire they all completed after being called to jury duty. These questions were more personal and related to their ability to attend court each day. Fultz asked about past interactions with law enforcement or family members that work in the justice system.
During this process, Grayson moved in his seat frequently, looking at his attorneys’ notes, the judge, and the jury.
While asking questions, both Fultz and Millhiser agreed to a short recess and the potential jurors left the courtroom.
State's Attorney questions potential jurors
12:25 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
State’s Attorney John Milhiser started his questions to the new group of jurors by providing a brief summary of the case. His questions were similar to what he asked the first group of potential jurors, or based on facts they shared. He asked potential jurors to disclose any connections with law enforcement. He asked them if they had any reluctance to vote on a guilty verdict for a former law enforcement officer.
Two jurors said they did not believe they could sit on the jury in judgement of another person. One of those jurors also said they were not in the right frame of mind to serve fairly on the jury.
Jury selection continues with second group of potentials
12:10 p.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
The 12 new jurors made their way to the jury box. Judge Ryan Cadigan asked the group if they had heard of the case. 10 of the jurors said they had heard about it. Many said they had heard about the case from friends or from news coverage of the case.
Three jurors said they could not be impartial because of the information they had about the case before entering the courtroom.
During Judge Cadigan’s preliminary questions to the jury, Grayson was leaned back in his chair and looking at each juror as they acknowledged the judge.
Each potential juror is being asked about their marital status, education, and career. They were asked about their spouse’s and adult children’s employment. They also were asked if they had ever been involved in a lawsuit or served on a jury.
First four potential jurors selected from first group
11:45 a.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Court has returned after a short break. The first section of 12 potential jurors returned to the courtroom. Four people from the group were selected. Six were dismissed. The other two remain as potential jurors, although they were not selected in this round.
The next section of 12 potential jurors has been called into the courtroom.
Defense questions potential jurors
11:15 a.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Defense attorney for Sean Grayson, Daniel Fultz, took the lead in questioning the jury on the defense’s behalf. He led his questioning by emphasizing the importance of the jury being truthful and honest.
Questionnaires were given to potential jurors regarding their past or other experiences. Fultz asked certain jurors questions about the responses they had given in the questionnaires.
Those questions were in regard to their interactions with law enforcement or members of the criminal justice system. He asked several people if their previous interactions with the criminal justice system left them with a “bad taste” for the process or a mistrust in the system.
For several of the potential jurors Fultz questioned, he asked hyper-specific questions regarding personal situations, including medical history or jobs.
One juror was very transparent in saying they had moved from Decatur in the last few years and had seen videos and stories related to the case. They told the court they had “seen a lot” regarding it.
One juror shared concerns about their safety because the case is “high-profile.”
State's Attorney questions potential jurors
10:40 a.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
James Wilburn, Sonya Massey’s father, is the only family member present in the courtroom. Sean Grayson does not have handcuffs on while in front of the jury, but does when exiting the courtroom.
State’s Attorney John Milhiser asked potential jurors to disclose if they were friends or family with law enforcement officers or had previously been an officer. Milhiser also asked jurors if they could put their relationship with law enforcement aside to deliver a fair verdict. One potential juror said “absolutely” to this question. Milhiser also asked if they were concerned how the officer they knew would react if they knew the verdict.
State’s Attorney John Milhiser asked jurors to disclose if they had given any money to law enforcement based non-profits or organizations or volunteered with one. Only one juror said yes, explaining they volunteered for a local organization.
State’s Attorney John Milhiser asked several hyper-specific questions related to law enforcement and how they are judged in the courtroom. This included asking jurors if it was unfair to judge an officer’s response to a specific moment. He also asked if they believed it was fair for officers to use any amount of force in their positions as officers, or if there should be restrictions.
Jury questioning begins
10:15 a.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Attorneys are keeping a close eye on the jury as they answer questions. They are taking note of the way each person is responding. Grayson is also looking closely at the jurors and occasionally rocking back and forth in his chair.
Each potential juror is being asked about their marital status, education, and career. They were asked about their spouse’s and adult children’s employment. They also were asked if they had ever been involved in a lawsuit or served on a jury.
Court proceedings begin
9:45 a.m. Monday, October 20 — Carlee Bronkema
Media were allowed into the courtroom at 9:45 AM. Grayson is wearing a dark navy blue suit and is clean shaven. He is wearing glasses and has a serious demeanor as he looks around the courtroom.
Presiding Circuit Judge of Sangamon County Ryan M. Cadagin is questioning jurors about their knowledge of the case. Ten of the 12 potential jurors acknowledged they had heard about this case through the news.
Follow along with our live blog coverage as the trial gets underway.
Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom.
Below is a list of key players in the case:
- Presiding Circuit Judge of Sangamon County Ryan M. Cadagin
- Prosecutor and Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser
- Prosecutor and Sangamon County First Assistant State's Attorney Mary Beth Rodgers
- Prosecutor and Sangamon County Assistant State's Attorney Ryan Harding
- Defense attorney for Sean Grayson, Mark Wykoff
- Defense attorney for Sean Grayson, Daniel Fultz
How we got here:
According to police, the 36-year-old Massey called 911 to report a suspected prowler in July 2024. It ended with her being shot inside her home. The incident was captured on police body camera.
Another Sangamon County deputy, whose name has not been publicly 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.
The trial was moved to Peoria County, Illinois, due to publicity in the case, which garnered worldwide attention.
More Sonya Massey Coverage:
Pritzker signs bill requiring stricter police hiring practices in honor of Sonya Massey
'She said she would change the world': Sonya's Massey's family remembers her one year later
A look at what happened and what's to come following Sonya Massey's death
Sean Grayson appears in court for final time before trial begins in Peoria
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