Dennis Sochor Faces Execution | Jacksonville News

Dennis Sochor, 74, convicted of raping and strangling Patricia Gifford in 1981, faces execution next Tuesday — July 14th — after Florida’s highest court denied his final appeals. His legal team fought to halt the state’s lethal injection protocol, citing autopsy records of 33 other executions that describe a “drowning sensation,” arguing it’s cruel and unusual punishment. Sochor, who confessed to the crime after meeting Gifford at a New Year’s party and taking her to breakfast — where her body vanished — now seeks intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court. With Governor Ron DeSantis accelerating executions under his watch — this would be Sochor’s 10th death row inmate executed this year — Florida is poised to break its own record for oldest executed inmate if Dominick Occhicone is put to death July 18th. Sochor’s defense also claims evidence of his brother’s possible involvement was suppressed, and he even offered a firing squad as an alternative — but courts ruled too late to challenge the execution method. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f7706d243c6fb887