Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Ecstatic.

That’s how Sonya Massey’s mother, Donna, reacted upon learning Thursday that Sean Grayson would get the maximum 20-year sentence for killing Sonya in 2024 while still a Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy.

“It wasn’t just one or two of us, or our lawyers, or our support. Everybody who went out in the streets, in the rain, sleet, and snow.  This was a group effort.  And, we did it!” said Donna Massey.

Massey says she’s planning on a celebration in the Spring she wants everyone to show up at.

It was a far more positive feeling than when Grayson was convicted of Second Degree Murder, instead of first.  Between last October and Thursday, at a news conference, Sonya Massey’s cousin had more time to think, and more time to reflect, but is still concerned race may be playing too much of a role in law enforcement and court proceedings.

“There’s a lot of systems that were in play that perpetuated and created this situation,” said Sontae Massey.  “We have to work on these outdated laws.  We have to get them off the books, and bring in new laws.”

Sontae Massey says another thing that would help is voters passing during the March primary a referendum that would lead to the formation of a mental health board, and a county sales tax increase to pay for it.   He says it’s the sort of thing her cousin would have benefitted from.

Summer, Sonya Massey’s daughter, has taken the death of her mother very hard, including having an outburst at one of the days of the trial last October.  On Thursday, she let her feelings be known about Grayson, including when she made a victim impact statement at court during sentencing, and when he asked for forgiveness from the Massey family.

“He’s lucky the police was [sic] in there,” said Summer.  “He kept a straight face while I made my statement.  I couldn’t even really look at him, because I know some words are going to slip out, because I know how I am.  I don’t think I am going to forgive him no time soon [sic].  I don’t think he really cares anyway.  He’s sick and dying.  If he do die [sic], maybe he’s going to the pearly gates, but I don’t think so.”

It was said in court that cancer that Grayson has been battling is now in several parts of his body.

As for that issue of forgiveness, several Massey family members didn’t buy it, saying that his pleas for forgiveness were the opposite of statements he made under oath on the witness stand at trial.