Florida Executes 74-Year-Old Prisoner Via Lethal Injection

Florida executed Dennis Sochor, 74, via lethal injection on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at the Florida state prison near Starke. Sochor was pronounced dead at 6:16 PM following a three-drug injection. His execution marks the state's 10th lethal injection this year and is notable as he was one of the oldest prisoners to be executed in Florida's history. Sochor was convicted of the murder of Patricia Gifford on January 1, 1982, a crime committed shortly after he met the 18-year-old victim at a New Year's Eve party. This execution is part of a recent trend in Florida, which has scheduled three executions for older prisoners within a single month, highlighting the state's active use of the death penalty. Florida is recognized as the nation's busiest state for capital punishment.