A 74-year-old man became the oldest inmate executed in Florida’s modern history. Dennis Sochor was executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.
Sochor was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping following the 1982 crime involving 18-year-old Patricia Gifford. She had refused his advances, leading to the crime.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Sochor’s request to delay the execution, allowing it to proceed.
I am deeply sorry
Sochor apologized to Gifford’s family before his execution. He also expressed gratitude to his loved ones and entrusted his soul to Jesus Christ. Prior to his execution, Sochor declined a last meal and spent time with a visitor and spiritual advisor.
Gifford encountered Sochor and his brother while celebrating on New Year’s Day in the Fort Lauderdale area. They left together for breakfast, during which Sochor drove to a remote area where the crime occurred.
Sochor was arrested in 1986 for other offenses. He eventually confessed to the crime, but Gifford’s body was never recovered. His brother implicated Sochor in her disappearance.
In 1987, a jury found Sochor guilty, leading to his death sentence. His execution marked the tenth in Florida this year.
Florida plans to execute an 80-year-old inmate later in July, and another 74-year-old inmate was executed last month.
In 2025, Florida executed 19 people, the highest number in a single year in the state. Florida led the U.S. in executions last year, surpassing Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina.
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