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<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTonight, the state of Florida executed its oldest inmate in more than *** century. Tonight, 74-year-old Dennis Socho received *** lethal injection just after 6 p.m. He was sentenced to death for murdering 18-year-old Patricia Gifford after meeting her at *** New Year’s Eve party in 1982. After the execution, her family released *** statement saying, quote, Today marked the end of *** legal process that lasted nearly half *** century. Patty’s remains were never recovered, but her life was never lost to us. She was our sister, our daughter, our friend. And she mattered, they continued. We ask that Patty be remembered not by the brutality of her death, but by the beauty and value of her life, end quote. The DeSantiss administration is shattering state records for executions and currently outpacing every other state, breaking down the numbers of the 17 total exe executions in the US this year. Florida put 10 of those inmates to death for reference to the other states carrying out executions Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona. When it comes to age of the inmates, Ochar, who was executed tonight, was just *** week older than the previous oldest person to be put to death in Florida, Dusty Ray Spencer. That’s him in the center of the screen there. He was executed June 25th. On the right is Dominic Accion. He’s 80 years old. He’s said to be executed in Florida next month. If that happens, he would not only become the oldest person to be executed in Florida, he’d be the second oldest man to be executed in US history.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Florida executes Dennis Sochor for 1982 murder of Patricia Gifford<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\tUpdated: 10:34 PM EDT Jul 14, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tDennis Sochor, convicted of killing 18-year-old Patricia Gifford in 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party, was executed by lethal injection tonight at the age of 74, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Sochor is the tenth person to be executed in Florida this year. He was just a week older than Dusty Ray Spencer, who was executed in June and was, at the time, the oldest person to be executed in Florida. At the end of the month, the state is also planning to execute Dominick Occhicone, who, at 80 years old, will be the second-oldest man to be executed in the United States. When asked about Sochor’s execution and concerns about his age, Gifford’s sister said, “I wish my mother was alive to see it.” She added that she is happy it is happening in her lifetime. Family members of Patricia Gifford issued the following statement: “This day did not bring Patty back, and it does not erase the 44 years our family has lived without her. Patty was 18 years old, full of life, and deeply loved by her family and friends. We are grateful to the prosecutors, investigators, witnesses, jurors, judges, and advocates who carried this case forward for decades. “Sochor\u2019s conviction and sentencing in 1987 gave our family a measure of justice, consolation, and closure in knowing that he would never again be free to hurt another woman. When he confessed in 1987 and led detectives to the Alligator Alley area in an attempt to locate Patty, we also came to understand that her remains would likely never be recovered. “Today marked the end of a legal process that lasted nearly half a century. Patty\u2019s remains were never recovered, but her life was never lost to us. She was our sister, our daughter, our friend, and she mattered. “We ask that Patty be remembered not by the brutality of her death, but by the beauty and value of her life.”Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tRAIFORD, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Dennis Sochor, convicted of killing 18-year-old Patricia Gifford in 1982 after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party, was executed by lethal injection tonight at the age of 74, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. <\/p>\n Sochor is the tenth person to be executed in Florida this year. He was just a week older than Dusty Ray Spencer, who was executed in June and was, at the time, the oldest person to be executed in Florida. <\/p>\n At the end of the month, the state is also planning to execute Dominick Occhicone, who, at 80 years old, will be the second-oldest man to be executed in the United States. <\/p>\n When asked about Sochor’s execution and concerns about his age, Gifford’s sister said, “I wish my mother was alive to see it.” She added that she is happy it is happening in her lifetime. <\/p>\n Family members of Patricia Gifford issued the following statement: <\/p>\n “This day did not bring Patty back, and it does not erase the 44 years our family has lived without her. Patty was 18 years old, full of life, and deeply loved by her family and friends. We are grateful to the prosecutors, investigators, witnesses, jurors, judges, and advocates who carried this case forward for decades. <\/p>\n “Sochor\u2019s conviction and sentencing in 1987 gave our family a measure of justice, consolation, and closure in knowing that he would never again be free to hurt another woman. When he confessed in 1987 and led detectives to the Alligator Alley area in an attempt to locate Patty, we also came to understand that her remains would likely never be recovered. <\/p>\n “Today marked the end of a legal process that lasted nearly half a century. Patty\u2019s remains were never recovered, but her life was never lost to us. She was our sister, our daughter, our friend, and she mattered. <\/p>\n “We ask that Patty be remembered not by the brutality of her death, but by the beauty and value of her life.”<\/p>\n Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25<\/a><\/p>\n Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n