Huntsville, Texas – Ivan Cantu, an inmate in Texas, was executed by lethal injection for the murder of his cousin and his cousin’s girlfriend in 2000. Cantu maintained his innocence up to his last words before the execution. His cousin, James Mosqueda, 27, and his cousin’s girlfriend, Amy Kitchen, 22, were fatally shot in the incident.
According to prosecutors, Cantu killed Mosqueda, who was involved in illegal drug activities, and Kitchen while attempting to steal drugs, money, and cash from his cousin’s home in north Dallas. Despite Cantu claiming that a rival drug dealer was responsible for the killings, he was convicted in 2001 for the double murder.
Cantu’s execution was the first in Texas for the year, with another scheduled execution in Idaho being halted due to medical complications. His attorney, Gena Bunn, refrained from submitting a final appeal to the US Supreme Court, citing a lack of viable options for review.
Efforts to postpone Cantu’s execution garnered support from various quarters, including faith leaders, celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Martin Sheen, and politicians like US representative Joaquín Castro. Three jurors from Cantu’s trial also expressed doubts about the case, seeking a delay in the execution.
Despite claims of new evidence implicating another individual in the murders, the district attorney Greg Willis stood by the conviction, stating that the evidence presented at the trial proved Cantu’s guilt. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles also rejected attempts to commute Cantu’s sentence or grant a reprieve.
In his defense, Cantu’s attorney highlighted the presence of witness statements and new evidence that challenged the integrity of the case against Cantu. However, the prosecutor’s office maintained that the new evidence did not undermine the core elements of the state’s case.
The execution of Cantu marked a significant event in Texas, known for its history of capital punishment. While no further executions were scheduled in the immediate future, the case has sparked debates about the death penalty and the need for thorough review processes in such high-stakes legal proceedings.