Bio

Dennis Sochor was born on February 25, 1952. He grew up in the United States, although specific details about his early life and family background are not widely documented.

As a young adult, Sochor lived in Broward County, Florida. He was known to have some encounters with the law before his most infamous case. For example, in 1980, he was involved in an incident where he was accused of forcing a woman into his vehicle and sexually assaulting her. He served a short jail sentence and was placed on probation.

In December 1981, Sochor attended a New Year’s Eve party at a lounge in Fort Lauderdale. This gathering is where he met Patricia Gifford, an 18-year-old woman. Along with his brother, Gary, he spent time with her at the lounge that night. After the party ended, Sochor, Gifford, and his brother left together.

He was arrested in Georgia in 1986 on unrelated charges before being extradited to Florida. His case brought notable attention due to the nature of the events surrounding Patricia Gifford.

Murder Story

Dennis Sochor was convicted of the murder of Patricia Gifford, an 18-year-old woman. The crime occurred on January 1, 1982, in Broward County, Florida. Sochor's brother, Gary, testified that they met Gifford at a lounge on New Year's Eve. After the evening ended, Gifford agreed to go to breakfast with the Sochor brothers. Gary stated that while driving, they stopped in an isolated area where Dennis assaulted Gifford. He claimed that Gifford screamed for help but that Dennis told him to stay in the truck.

The following morning, Gary found a woman’s shoe, a sweater, and a set of keys in Dennis’ truck. He later noticed the truck had been cleaned, and the items were gone. When Gifford’s friend found her missing and reported it to the police, investigators obtained a photo of Gifford from that night which showed her with an unknown man. When Dennis saw this photo on television, he quickly left the scene.

Gary returned to Michigan after the incident but later agreed to help the police. He said that Dennis was responsible for Gifford's disappearance. The police could not find Gifford’s body. Dennis was arrested in Georgia on unrelated charges and brought back to Florida.

During police custody, Sochor made three taped confessions. He admitted to meeting Gifford at the lounge, where they talked and kissed. Sochor claimed that when Gifford refused his sexual advances, they fought, and he choked her. He believed he had killed Gifford and discarded her body in a secluded area. Following the incident, he abandoned the truck in Tampa and traveled to New Orleans before moving to Atlanta.

Sochor was indicted on October 9, 1986, for first-degree murder and kidnapping. On October 20, 1987, the jury found him guilty. The jury recommended the death penalty, and on November 2, 1987, Sochor was sentenced to death.

Over the years, Sochor filed several appeals regarding his conviction. He argued that there was insufficient evidence without the victim's body and that his confessions should not have been allowed in court. The Florida Supreme Court upheld his conviction in 1991, and Sochor's appeals continued in various forms for years thereafter.