A 74-year-old man, Dennis Sochor, was executed in Florida on Tuesday, marking him as the oldest inmate executed in the state’s modern history. The execution took place at Florida State Prison near Starke, with Sochor pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. following a three-drug injection, the Florida Department of Corrections reported.
Sochor was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping after the 18-year-old Patricia Gifford refused his advances on January 1, 1982. His request for a stay of execution was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court, allowing the scheduled execution to proceed. During the process, Sochor was restrained on a gurney with an IV in his arm as the curtain to the death chamber was lifted.
According to a spokesperson for Governor Ron DeSantis, Sochor expressed remorse, apologizing repeatedly to the Gifford family and acknowledging his guilt. He thanked his supporters and commended his spirit to Jesus Christ.
Details revealed that Sochor declined a last meal, met with one visitor, and saw a spiritual advisor prior to the execution. On the night of the crime, Sochor encountered Gifford at a bar in the Fort Lauderdale area where she was celebrating New Year’s Day. Later, Sochor drove her to a remote area and attacked her after she refused to have sex, investigators stated.
Sochor’s arrest came in 1986 on unrelated charges, leading to his extradition to Florida, where he confessed to choking Gifford and disposing of her body. Despite his confession, Gifford’s body was never recovered. A jury convicted Sochor in 1987, sentencing him to death for murder and kidnapping.
While Sochor’s execution marked a significant point in Florida history, another 80-year-old inmate is scheduled for execution later in July. Additionally, a 74-year-old inmate—a week younger than Sochor at execution time—was executed the previous month.
Sochor’s execution is the 10th in Florida this year. In 2025, a record-setting 19 individuals were executed in Florida, surpassing previous records since the death penalty’s reinstatement. Last year, Florida led the nation in executions, with Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina each executing five individuals.