SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Almost two months after his death, there is news to report about Sean Grayson.

The State Journal-Register reports Grayson’s appeal of his second-degree murder conviction has been vacated. His lawyers withdrew a bid for his conviction to be expunged. Grayson died before the appeals process was completed. That attempt angered the family of Sonya Massey, the Springfield-area woman Grayson was convicted of killing two years ago.

Also, a death certificate (pictured) reveals that Grayson died in Rhode Island. Local media has reported he was being held in a state other than Illinois – but not just where. The news of the death certificate was first reported by the State Journal-Register and is believed to be the first reporting of where Grayson was imprisoned.

Grayson was a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy when he shot and killed Massey after she called 9-1-1 to report a possible prowler July 6, 2024. Grayson was serving a 20-year prison term, the maximum for the second-degree murder conviction a Peoria County jury rendered in October 2025. Grayson claimed self-defense, saying he believed Massey would throw boiling water at him. He was already diagnosed with cancer at the time of the shooting. Cancer spread and claimed his life Aug. 23.

NOTE: This story has been corrected to reflect that the appeal has been vacated and that the conviction stands. Also updated: a credit to the State Journal-Register as the original source of the Rhode Island death certificate.