A second-degree murder conviction for former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson on Oct. 29 in the death of Sonya Massey was a “serious miscarriage of justice,” Massey’s father said after the verdict. Grayson, 31, who was charged with first-degree murder in the July 2024 shooting death of Massey, 36, in her Woodside Township home, […]
Dean Olsen
Dean Olsen is a senior staff writer for Illinois Times. He can be reached at:
dolsen@illinoistimes.com, 217-679-7810 or @DeanOlsenIT.
Verdict in Sean Grayson trial
A Peoria County jury found former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson guilty Oct. 29 of second-degree murder, deciding that he mistakenly believed he was justified in shooting and killing Sonya Massey to avoid being scalded by a pot of hot water she had raised over her head. Jurors were chosen from that county because […]
First data center in Sangamon County
A Dallas-based company is seeking zoning approval to establish a $500 million data center on 280 acres of farmland southwest of Springfield in what would be the largest building construction project in Sangamon County history. CyrusOne, which operates more than 55 data centers across the United States, Europe and Japan – including two in the […]
Sean Grayson on trial
Former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct stemming from the July 2024 shooting death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey inside her Woodside Township home just outside Springfield. Grayson’s jury trial began Oct. 20 in the Peoria County Courthouse in Peoria. […]
Sean Grayson trial to begin Oct. 20
Yes, it may all come down to the video. But how the 12 members of Sean Grayson’s upcoming jury interpret police body-worn footage from that fateful day, and how they weigh the views of experts on proper police conduct, will determine Grayson’s fate 15 months after the death of Sonya Massey in her Woodside Township […]
Peoria rally planned for first day of trial
A Justice for Sonya Massey Rally is planned outside the Peoria County Courthouse in Peoria on Oct. 20, the first day of Sean Grayson’s murder trial. The rally, which organizer Chama St. Louis-Boone said will be peaceful and is designed to “support the Massey family” and call for “accountability of police,” will take place from […]
Springfield’s Amazon hub opens
Same-day and next-day deliveries of pet food, diapers, makeup, hair gel, breakfast cereals and other common household items will be available in the Springfield area by late-October or early November with the recent opening of Amazon’s new distribution hub, a company official says. The 71,000-square-foot warehouse, so far employing 75 part-time, entry-level workers and about […]
Sangamon County Sheriff’s union endorses David Timm
The union representing Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department deputies, correctional officers and court security staff says its membership overwhelmingly endorsed recently retired deputy David Timm to be the next sheriff over incumbent Sheriff Paula Crouch. Timm, 50, a Republican from rural Pleasant Plains, is collecting signatures on petitions to challenge Crouch, a Republican from rural Williamsville, […]
City Council expresses surprise at TIF agreement
Springfield City Council members who said in September they were unaware of a previous mayor’s promise to send $100,000 a year to School District 186 from funds collected for two of the city’s tax-increment financing districts have no reason to plead ignorance, former mayor Jim Langfelder told Illinois Times. Langfelder, who lost his bid for […]
Losing health care coverage
Dr. Janet Albers is sad that thousands of Springfield-area patients could lose Medicaid coverage and delay care because of Republican President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Albers, a family physician, told Illinois Times that she saw many previously uninsured patients get screened for cancer and chronic health conditions, then obtain lifesaving treatment, after the […]
Dr. Jerry Kruse announces retirement from SIU School of Medicine
Dr. Jerry Kruse, dean and provost of Springfield-based Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for the past nine years, plans to retire in summer 2026. Kruse, 72, a family physician and member of the medical school’s faculty for more than 40 years, announced his retirement to the SIU Board of Trustees at its meeting Sept. […]
Grayson’s background ruled irrelevant for trial
Jurors at former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson’s murder trial won’t hear potentially disturbing details from Grayson’s military service and previous jobs in law enforcement even though the revelations led to new requirements for background checks of police statewide. Sangamon County Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin on Sept. 12 agreed with Grayson’s defense lawyers that […]
