Stay the Execution of Dennis Sochor

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency

U.S. Military veteran Dennis Sochor is scheduled to be executed in Florida on Tuesday, July 14, at 6 pm for the 1982 murder of Patricia Gifford. His death sentence was imposed after a jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2, meaning two jurors believed he should receive a life sentence instead.

Dennis has spent nearly four decades on death row. During that time, he has grown older, reflected on his actions, and lived with the consequences of his crime.

Please sign this petition urging Governor DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency to stop this execution. Mercy, fairness, and respect for human dignity require us to recognize that a person is more than the worst act of their life.

To: Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency
From: [Your Name]

On July 14, 2026, the State of Florida plans to execute Dennis Sochor for the 1982 murder of Patricia Gifford.

Nothing can diminish the profound loss suffered by Patricia Gifford's family and loved ones. We remember Patricia today, and we acknowledge the lasting impact her loss has had on all who knew and loved her.

At the same time, the passage of more than 40 years invites us to consider whether another execution will serve justice. Dennis Sochor was sentenced to death following a divided jury recommendation of 10-2, meaning two jurors believed he should be sentenced to life imprisonment rather than death.

Dennis is also a U.S. military veteran who has spent more than four decades on death row. He is no longer the young man who entered prison in the 1980s.

Executions cannot undo the harm caused by violent crime, heal grieving families, or bring loved ones back. They only create another death in the name of the state.

We respectfully urge Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency to stop the execution of Dennis Sochor and commute his sentence to life imprisonment.