Florida: Dennis Sochor Executed—at the Age of 74 and After Four Decades on Death Row

On Tuesday evening, 74-year-old Dennis Sochor was executed by lethal injection in the U.S. state of Florida. He had admitted to killing an 18-year-old woman in 1982 and spent about four decades on death row. The body was never found.

In his final words, Sochor repeatedly asked for forgiveness and stated that he deeply regretted the crime. He thanked his family and friends for their support over the years and commended his soul to Jesus Christ.

The organization “Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty” (FADP) states in its release that Sochor is yet another example of an offender whose upbringing was marked by profound trauma, violence, neglect, and intergenerational mental illness—which does not excuse the crime, but does explain it.

Furthermore, FADP states: “The prosecution relied heavily on statements Dennis made to the police while he was in a depressive phase of his untreated bipolar disorder.” The prosecution also relied on the testimony of his brother Gary, who was present on the night Patricia disappeared. Gary apparently received immunity in exchange for his cooperation and was never charged.

As recently as 2022, the police contacted Gary and asked him for information about the whereabouts of Patricia’s body. If they’re certain they have the right man and know the full picture of the crime, what are they still investigating?”

It was the tenth execution in Florida this year, and Governor Ron DeSantis has evidently made it a point to select men between the ages of 70 and 80 for execution—men who have been on death row for many decades. Two executions are scheduled for July 28 in Florida, including that of an 80-year-old man.

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/florida-executes-oldest-prisoners
https://www.fadp.org/statement-on-the-execution-of-dennis-sochor/