She called for help—and ended up dead.

In the early hours of July 6, 2024, 36-year-old Sonya Massey dialed 911 to report a prowler near her Springfield, Illinois home. Minutes later, she was shot in the face by a responding sheriff’s deputy. Unarmed. In her own kitchen. In front of a boiling pot of water and a prayer.

In this episode, Dr. Dee unpacks the heartbreaking story of Sonya Massey—a devoted mother, beloved daughter, and woman of faith—and the system that not only failed to protect her but helped shield the man who killed her. From the chilling bodycam footage to the courtroom drama that ended in a second-degree murder conviction, this episode exposes how justice was delayed, diluted, and defined by systemic failure.

We trace the outrage, the protests, the political reckoning, and the reforms that followed. And we honor the light Sonya carried—and the legacy her family now fights to protect.

Trigger warning: This episode contains details involving police violence, mental health crisis, and gun violence.

🕯️ Say her name. Sonya Massey.
🎙️ Listen now on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
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