A 74-year-old man, Dennis Sochor, was executed in Florida on Tuesday for the 1982 murder of Patricia Gifford, a 18-year-old woman from Massachusetts. Sochor was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.
Background of the Case
Sochor was convicted of killing Gifford on January 1, 1982, just hours after meeting her at a New Year’s Eve party. He was arrested in Georgia in 1986 and extradited to Florida, where he was sentenced to death in 1987.
Before his execution, Sochor apologized to the Gifford family and thanked his loved ones for their support. He also commended his spirit to Jesus Christ. The execution was witnessed by Gifford’s sister, Marilyn, who said that Sochor’s death brings some closure to the family, but it’s bittersweet since her sister’s body has never been found.
Reaction from the Family
Marilyn Gifford encouraged anyone with information that could lead to the remains of her sister to contact authorities. She also pointed out that Sochor got to live more than twice as long on death row as her sister lived her entire life.
The execution of Sochor is part of a series of executions scheduled in Florida, which has carried out 10 of the 16 executions conducted in the nation this year. Another 80-year-old inmate, Dominick Anthony Occhicone, is scheduled to be executed on July 28 for the killings of his ex-girlfriend’s parents.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
