74-year-old becomes Florida’s oldest inmate executed after 1982 killing of teen

A 74-year-old man was executed in Florida on Tuesday, making him the oldest inmate executed in Florida’s modern history. 

Dennis Sochor was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. after a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and kidnapping after 18-year-old Patricia Gifford refused to have sex with him on Jan. 1, 1982. 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, without comment, denied Sochor’s request for a stay of execution and rejected his petition for review, allowing the execution to move forward as scheduled.

Sochor was strapped to a gurney with an IV in his arm when the curtain to the death chamber went up at execution time.

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He apologized several times to the Gifford family, saying he was “deeply sorry” for his crime, a spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said, according to The Associated Press. He also thanked his loved ones for their support over the years and commended his spirit to Jesus Christ.

Sochor declined a last meal and met with one visitor and a spiritual advisor before his execution, according to the outlet.

Sochor was with his brother when he met Gifford as she was celebrating on New Year’s Day at a bar in the Fort Lauderdale area, according to Fox 13.

The group talked through the night, but Gifford left with Sochor and his brother to get breakfast. Sochor drove his truck to a secluded area and asked Gifford if she wanted to have sex, and she refused. Sochor then attacked the teenager, according to investigators.

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Sochor was arrested in 1986 on unrelated charges and extradited to Florida, where he confessed to choking Gifford and disposing of her body.

His brother told authorities Sochor was responsible for Gifford’s disappearance, and her body was never found.

In 1987, a jury convicted Sochor of first-degree murder and kidnapping, and he was sentenced to death.

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While Sochor was the oldest inmate in Florida’s modern history to be executed, an 80-year-old prisoner is scheduled to be executed later in July. Another 74-year-old inmate only a week younger than Sochor at the time of execution was put to death last month.

Sochor’s execution was the 10th in Florida so far this year.

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In 2025, 19 people were put to death in Florida, setting a record for the most executions in one year in the Sunshine State. Before last year, Florida’s record for executions in a year since the death penalty was restored in 1976 was eight in 1984 and 2014.

Florida also executed more people last year than any other state, with Alabama, Texas and South Carolina tied for the second-most with five each. Across the U.S., 47 people were executed in 2025.

Fox News’ Bill Mears and The Associated Press contributed to this report.