Springfield, Illinois – We have obtained additional documents in the Homicide of Sonya Massey by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy.
The recordings are from the Sangamon County Dispatch
Stay tuned as we update this article
Springfield, Illinois – We have obtained additional documents in the Homicide of Sonya Massey by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy.
The recordings are from the Sangamon County Dispatch
Stay tuned as we update this article
Springfield, Illinois – On July 6, 2024, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to 2868 S. Hoover Ave. to investigate a call regarding a prowler.
Sangamon County Sheriff Deputy Sean Grayson, who has since been fired and criminally charged with first-degree murder, along with another Sangamon County Sheriff Deputy, made contact with the 911 caller, Sonya Massey, who said she needed assistance. During that encounter, Massey was fatally shot once in the face by Grayson.
The family and the community have protested to have the body camera footage reviewed, and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney has released the footage.
There will be a peace march today at 3:00 p.m., starting at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, located at 908 S. Martin Luther King Drive. The march will proceed to Comer Cox Park, located at 301 S. Martin Luther King Drive.
Update: On behalf of Sangamon County State’s Attorney John C. Milhiser, the
Illinois State Police (ISP) is posting the body worn camera (BWC) video from the officer-involved
shooting of Ms. Sonya Massey on July 6, 2024. The release of this video is occurring after
consultation with the family of Sonya Massey.
“My prayers are with the family of Sonya Massey, and I commend the Illinois State Police for
conducting an expedited investigation into her tragic death,” said State’s Attorney Milhiser. “The
State’s Attorney’s Office is dedicated to pursuing justice through the prosecution of this case.”
On July 6, 2024, at approximately 12:50 a.m., Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a
911 call in the 2800 block of Hoover Avenue in Springfield. Former Sangamon County Deputy
Sean Grayson and another deputy made contact with the caller, Sonya Massey, at her residence.
During the interaction inside the home of Ms. Massey, former Deputy Grayson discharged his
firearm striking Ms. Massey and killing her. The Illinois State Police were contacted to conduct an
independent investigation into the shooting.
The investigation was conducted in an expedited timeframe and was first evaluated under Illinois
law for the use of deadly force. After a review of the ISP investigation, the State’s Attorney
determined the evidence did not support a finding that former Deputy Sean Grayson was justified
in his use of deadly force, and the case was presented to a Sangamon County Grand Jury. On July
17, 2024, the Grand Jury returned a five-count indictment including three counts of First Degree
Murder, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, and Official Misconduct. On July 17, 2024, an arrest
warrant was issued, and Grayson was taken into custody. He remains in custody.
Stay tuned as we update this article.
Springfield, Illinois – Springfield Leaks obtained details from the body camera footage of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey, who was killed by a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy.
On July 6, 2024, now-fired Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean P. Grayson responded to 2868 Hoover St. to investigate a call regarding a prowler. Grayson and another Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy made contact with the 911 caller, Sonya Massey, who said she needed assistance. Massey appeared calm, possibly unwell, and not aggressive. She weighed approximately 110 pounds.
Deputies entered Massey’s home to gather further information, and ensure the residence was safe. According to sources, Massey was at no time under arrest.
Deputy Grayson noticed a pot on the stove and allowed Massey to remove it to prevent any accidental fires. The pot was located in another room of the home, separated by a large counter.
During this time, the other deputy was clearing the house and noted nothing dangerous. Grayson then made a comment about the pot, which apparently contained heated water. Massey responded verbally and set the pot of water down on a counter in the kitchen. Grayson remained in the living room area of the home.
Despite his distance and relative cover, Grayson drew his 9mm firearm, not the less-than-lethal TASER located on his duty vest, and threatened to shoot Massey in the face. Seeing the drawn weapon, Massey put her hands in the air and stated, “I’m sorry,” while ducking for cover behind the counter that separated her and the defendant.
Grayson, with his firearm still drawn, proceeded to close the significant gap between him and Ms. Massey. He then aggressively yelled at Massey to put the pot down.
Grayson then fired his duty weapon three times in the direction of Massey, striking her in the face once. Only at this point did Grayson activate his body-worn camera. However, the body-worn camera of the other deputy was activated when he first arrived on the scene and remained on during the entirety of the events.
Afterward, the other deputy announced he was going to retrieve a medical kit from his vehicle, but Grayson instructed him not to due to the severity of Massey’s injury. Despite this, the other deputy still rendered aid and stayed with Massey until medical help arrived. Grayson did not attempt to render aid to Ms. Massey at any point.
An independent investigation of Grayson’s actions was conducted by the Illinois State Police. An expert in the field of “use of force” reviewed the recordings from the body-worn cameras of both deputies. The expert concluded that Grayson was not justified in his use of deadly force. He likened the scenario to an officer intentionally and unnecessarily placing himself in front of a moving vehicle and then justifying the use of force due to fear of being struck.
In an attempt to keep Grayson in custody, today at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 5B, Sangamon County prosecutors will argue in front of a judge that “Grayson’s disregard of his training as a law enforcement officer and his disregard for human life are evidenced by clear and convincing evidence that he is a danger to persons in the community. He has ample access to firearms and has shown a willingness to use lethal force despite the availability of non-deadly alternatives when there is little to no threat to his bodily safety.”
Stay tuned as this is a developing story.
Springfield, Illinois – The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, can confirm the death of Robert Terry Jr., age 67, of Springfield and Renee Terry, age 61, of Springfield.
Both decedents were found and pronounced deceased inside their home in the 1800 block of Post Oak Ct. in Springfield yesterday morning.
An autopsy was done today and preliminary findings show Renee Terry died from multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Preliminary autopsy findings for Robert Terry Jr. show he died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The deaths remain under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Springfield Police Department.
Springfield, IL – A Springfield woman has been released from the Sangamon County Jail after the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court ruled that the Sangamon County Trial Court “erred in finding that the defendant posed a threat to the safety of the community and that no conditions of release could mitigate the threat.”
Katherine E. Smith is charged with murder, armed robbery, and home invasion in connection with the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Dohndre Hughes in February 2018. Smith, who was 18 at the time of her arrest, was charged alongside Dayne A. Woods and Mark D. Meszaros. According to Sangamon County prosecutors, Smith instructed Woods and Meszaros to set up a robbery and provided them with directions on how to enter Hughes’ home. Woods and Meszaros entered the home without Smith, using pepper spray to subdue the occupants. However, Hughes struggled with Woods, who then stabbed him in the chest, ultimately causing his death. Woods and Meszaros left Hughes’ residence with money, which they shared with Smith.
On February 8, 2024, Smith’s attorney, Mark Wykoff, asked the court to release her on pre-trial release while her case is pending. Wykoff argued that Smith, who did not have any previous criminal history, lived with her mother, worked as a sales associate, and was attending classes at a community college, was not alleged to have personally performed any act of violence but rather had been charged on an accountability theory. He also explained that Smith “got hooked up” with Woods because they both liked to smoke marijuana. Wykoff further stated that Woods “liked to dress up like a cop with all his gear and go in and rip off dope dealers,” and that although there was evidence that Smith and Woods planned to “rip off” the victim, who was a marijuana dealer, there was no evidence showing she contemplated Woods would physically harm the victim. However, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office asked the judge to deny that request and to have her remain in custody until the conclusion of her case due to the nature of the charges. A Sangamon County Judge agreed with the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, denied her pre-trial release, and ordered her to remain in custody. Attorney Wykoff then appealed that decision.
On May 2, 2024, the Appellate Court reversed that decision and stated in their order, “We agree and find the trial court abused its discretion by determining, based solely on the nature and circumstances of the charged offenses, that defendant ‘poses a danger to the community’ and that no condition or combination of conditions of pretrial release could mitigate such threat.” According to the Appellate Court, “While the State’s proffer tended to show defendant was legally accountable for the charged offenses, it was not sufficient, on its own, to show that defendant posed a real and present threat to the safety of the community. The State’s proffer did not indicate that defendant masterminded the robbery, was aware that Woods would be armed with a knife during the incident, was aware violence would be used against the victim, or personally performed or witnessed any act of violence. The State pointed to no other factor indicating that defendant posed a threat to the safety of the community. Significantly, the pretrial services report indicated that defendant (Smith) had no prior criminal history, and the State presented no evidence she had a history of violence.” They additionally stated, “The fact that a person is charged with a detainable offense is not enough to order detention, nor is it enough that the defendant poses a threat to public safety.”
On May 14, 2024, Smith was granted pre-trial release and released from the Sangamon County Jail with conditions that she is not to leave the State of Illinois, refrain from the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapons, have no contact directly or indirectly with her co-defendants or the family of the victim, Dohndre Hughes, be placed on home confinement with electronic monitoring, not consume alcohol, cannabis, and illegal prescription drugs without a valid prescription, and undergo a drug/alcohol evaluation.
According to records, Katherine Smith is the third individual charged with murder to be granted pre-trial release. Notably, Peggy Finley, represented by both Attorneys Scott Hankin and Mark Wykoff, is Wykoff’s first client and the first individual in Sangamon County to be granted pre-trial release while facing pending murder charges. Finley, accompanied by former EMT worker Peter Cadigan, who was also released pending pre-trial, is charged with the murder of Earl Moore Jr., who died after being strapped face down and slammed onto a gurney while experiencing medical distress from alcohol withdrawal.
At this time, Smith’s next court date is June 10, 2024. Her co-defendants, Woods and Meszaros, are still awaiting trial in the Sangamon County Jail.
Springfield, Illinois—Today, several staff and teachers from Grant Middle School did not report to work after meeting with Superintendent Jennifer Gill to address their concerns for a safer environment. According to a source, on Monday, May 10, 2024, five Grant Middle School faculty members addressed the school board, and after the meeting, some school board members were overheard saying, “The teachers were exaggerating.” The source tells us, “How much is enough?”
In a press release sent out today, it said, “The dedicated team at Grant Middle School took a bold stand to fight for a safer school environment for all students and staff by not reporting to work. The current system is ineffective in meeting the social and emotional needs of our students.
The top priority of our school board should be to provide a safe environment for every student to learn and for teachers to educate.
Therefore, we are coming together to ask for mental health crisis support and more restorative behavioral measures for students. Additionally, we are requesting meaningful support for our administration and security staff. We firmly believe that educators play a crucial role in shaping the future leaders in our community.”
Springfield School District 186 Spokeswoman, Rachel Dyas tells us that, “Today the students at Grant Middle School were greeted with several guest teachers alongside a number of their regular GMS teachers due to a higher number of staff personal leave absences than normal.
We were notified of this possibility yesterday and took swift action to ensure continuity for our students so that they have a great Friday. The building is adequately covered with certificated staff and security.
We are aware that the educators who serve students each day at Grant are concerned about the level of behavior issues. Yesterday, our Superintendent spent the day at GMS and met with staff voluntarily after school to discuss their concerns. We are dedicated to working through these issues with staff, working with families and supporting administration. As always, we cannot discuss any specific student case or employee issue due to the Student Record Act and employees’ right to privacy.
We know that serving our students and our community is a joint effort with families. Our staff should never have to deal with acts of misbehavior that make them feel unsafe. We are committed to continuing this conversation and supporting staff across the District in constructive and collaborative ways, but it is also a larger community-wide concern that we must address together. We fully understand the gravity of their concerns. The Springfield Education Association has issued their own statement and we will continue to work with them to define their needs and address their concerns as we continue to educate our students.
We do have a continued shortage of substitute teachers and have many staff across the District enjoying graduations and other momentous occasions for their families, so our District and instructional leaders stepped away from their roles to assist with this temporary need. We also asked our assistant principals from other schools and our Regional Office of Education staff who serve schools across our district to respond. We actually had more staff respond than is needed to cover the day.
Grant Middle School teachers and administration are excited about ending the school year strong and have many amazing activities planned, and the District is committed to working collaboratively to address their concerns while continuing to address students’ individual needs and provide an appropriate education for all.”
Springfield, Illinois – On May 6th, an arrest warrant was issued by the State’s Attorney’s Office for Brandon L. Berner, 23 of Springfield.
The warrant charges Berner with three counts of 1st Degree Murder in the death of Michael Newton.
Sheriff’s detectives were able to identify Berner as the suspect during the course of the investigation. Last night at approximately 10:12pm, Berner turned himself in at the Springfield Police Department. Deputies responded and transported Berner to the Sangamon County Jail, where he awaits a pre-trial detention hearing and arraignment scheduled for May 8th, at 2:00 p.m.
The Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate this case, with the assistance of the Sangamon County Coroner’s Office and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Springfield, Illinois – The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, can confirm the identity of the human remains found at a residence in the 2100 block of East South Grand Avenue in Springfield yesterday.
The remains in question were examined today in Springfield. The individual has been scientifically identified and the remains are those of Michelle R. Bianco of Springfield.
Ms. Bianco was reported missing more than 15 years ago in the Springfield area. After the post mortem examination today the official cause and manner of death is still pending addition studies.
The death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Sangamon County Coroner.
UPDATE FROM SHERIFF:
On Sunday, April 14th at 1:00 p.m., the Springfield Police Dept. was contacted by the resident of 2128 S. Grand Ave. The resident was remodeling and located in the crawlspace under the house a purse with personal documents inside with the name “Michelle Bianco.” SPD was aware the Sheriff’s Office had a missing person case on Bianco, and contacted SCSO.
Deputies and Detectives responded to the scene and began their investigation. Due to the purse being located in the soil under the house, it was determined that ISP assist in processing this type of scene.
On Monday, April 15th, ISP began their forensic processing of the cellar around 10:40 a.m. At approximately 12:03 p.m., they discovered skeletal remains and advised SCSO Detectives. At 12:05 p.m., an Anthropologist from the Illinois State Museum was requested to assist in the identification of the remains. After a positive ID that the bones were human, Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon was contacted and responded to the scene. Coroner Allmon took custody of the remains and returned the scene to Detectives. Today, Coroner Allmon notified SCSO the remains were that of Bianco.
The investigation of Bianco’s death continues. She was originally reported missing on April 8, 2008
Springfield, Illinois – The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office responded to Lincoln’s Lodge, located at 304 North Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois, on March 18, 2024, at approximately 9:09 p.m., for a reported shots fired call.
Upon arrival, a male victim was found inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported by ambulance from the scene and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
The Sangamon County Coroner, Jim Allmon, has identified the male victim as Aaron Suttle, 47, of Springfield, who was pronounced deceased by hospital staff shortly after his arrival at the emergency room.
An autopsy was done today and preliminary findings suggest Mr. Suttle died from the gunshot wound.
According to Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell, “Detectives are trying to locate and interview additional witnesses, and they continue to collect evidence. The suspect, a black male wearing black pants and a white short-sleeve shirt, was last seen running towards Clearlake Avenue after the shooting.”
Detectives from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at 217-753-6841 or Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427.