Killer’s Final Apology Revealed As He Becomes Florida’s Oldest Executed Inmate

Florida executed 74-year-old Dennis Sochor, among its oldest prisoners, connected Tuesday. He was pronounced dormant astatine 6:16 p.m. pursuing a three-drug injection astatine Florida State Prison adjacent Starke.

His execution is 1 of 3 older inmates scheduled wrong a period successful Florida, nan nation’s busiest death penalty state.

Sochor was convicted of sidesplitting 18-year-old Patricia Gifford connected January 1, 1982, hours aft gathering her astatine a New Year’s Eve party.

At 6 p.m., pinch nan decease enclosure curtain raised, Sochor was strapped to a gurney, an IV successful his arm. Asked for past words by nan warden, Sochor confirmed he had them.

He apologized respective times to nan Gifford family, saying he was “deeply sorry” and besides thanked his ain loved ones for their support complete nan years. Then he commended his tone to Jesus Christ soon earlier nan narcotics began flowing astatine 6:03 p.m.

Sochor underwent astir a infinitesimal of dense breathing and past immoderate seconds of sputtering. After 2 minutes successful which Sochor appeared to spell still, nan prison guard looked into his eyes, shook his shoulders and yelled his sanction without getting a response. A medic was summoned astatine 6:14 p.m., soon aft pronouncing Sochor dead.

Another 74-year-old inmate conscionable a week younger than Sochor astatine nan clip of execution was put to decease past month. And later this month, nan authorities is preparing to execute an 80-year-old, nan state’s first octogenarian facing a lethal injection.

The execution plans item nan aging decease statement organization successful nan U.S. and nan engaged decease enclosure successful Florida, which has now carried retired 10 of nan 16 executions conducted successful nan federation this twelvemonth — much than each different authorities combined.

Marilyn Gifford, Patricia’s sister, said aft witnessing nan execution that Sochor’s decease brings immoderate closure to nan family, but it’s bittersweet since her assemblage has ne'er been found. She encouraged anyone pinch accusation that could lead to nan remains to interaction authorities.

“He had 45 years to return Patty’s remains to us, but he cruelly chose not to,” Gifford said, reference from a statement. “We ne'er sewage a chance to laic her to remainder successful God’s arms. Without closure, each happy representation of Patty is instantly crushed by nan calamity of her murder.”

Gifford besides pointed retired that Sochor sewage to unrecorded much than doubly arsenic agelong connected decease statement arsenic her sister lived her full life. “Tonight’s execution was due because Dennis Sochor was a lifelong sadistic and sadistic man,” she said.

It’s unclear why Florida scheduled nan executions of nan 3 prisoners consecutively.

Maria DeLiberato, ineligible head of Floridians for Alternatives to nan Death Penalty, noted that successful Florida nan politician has practically sole discretion erstwhile it comes to scheduling executions. In galore different decease punishment states, nan scheduling is up to nan courts.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' agency did not respond to emailed requests for remark astir nan caller gait of nan executions.

A New Year's Day killing

According to tribunal records, Gifford was celebrating nan upcoming New Year pinch a friend astatine a Fort Lauderdale area barroom erstwhile they met Sochor and his brother.

The 4 spent hours talking, but aft nan friend became sick and went to slumber successful her car, Gifford near pinch Sochor and his relative to get breakfast. But alternatively of going for food, Sochor stopped his motortruck successful a secluded area and attacked Gifford, according to investigators.

Sochor was later arrested successful Georgia successful 1986 connected unrelated charges and extradited to Florida. Sochor’s relative told constabulary Sochor was responsible for Gifford’s disappearance, and Sochor himself confessed connected portion to choking Gifford and disposing of her body. A assemblage convicted him of first-degree execution and kidnapping successful 1987, and he was sentenced to death.

On Tuesday, nan U.S. Supreme Court rejected Sochor's last entreaty without comment.

Oldest inmates executed successful Florida

On June 25, Florida executed 74-year-old Dusty Ray Spencer for nan sidesplitting of his woman Karen. Until Tuesday, Spencer was nan oldest inmate executed successful Florida.

According to Florida Department of Corrections records, nan oldest inmates antecedently executed by nan authorities were some 72: Samuel Lee Smithers connected Oct. 14, 2025, for nan 1996 killings of 2 women and R. Charlie Gifford connected Feb. 21, 1951, for nan 1950 shooting of a authorities representative, Charles Schuh Jr.

Meanwhile, Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, is scheduled to beryllium executed July 28 for nan killings of his ex-girlfriend's parents.

If executed arsenic planned, he would go nan 2nd oldest captive known to beryllium put to decease successful modern U.S. history aft 83-year-old Walter Moody Jr. Moody was executed successful Alabama successful 2018 for sidesplitting a national judge and a Black civilian authorities lawyer during a activity of Southern message bombs.