HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A Texas inmate who had maintained his innocence for over two decades was executed on Wednesday for the shooting deaths of two individuals, including his cousin in Dallas.
Ivan Cantu, 50, was put to death via lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. He was convicted in 2001 for the November 2000 murders of his cousin, James Mosqueda, and Mosqueda’s girlfriend, Amy Kitchen. Cantu, in his final moments, reiterated his innocence with claims that he did not commit the killings.
Prosecutors argued that Cantu fatally shot Mosqueda and Kitchen in a botched attempt to steal drugs and money from his cousin’s residence. Despite Cantu’s insistence that a rival drug dealer was responsible for Mosqueda’s death, he was convicted based on evidence found in his apartment, including a gun with the victims’ DNA and a key to their home.
Efforts to delay Cantu’s execution were unsuccessful as both Texas and federal courts denied his requests for stays. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles also voted against commuting his sentence or granting a reprieve.
Cantu’s case garnered support from various individuals, including faith leaders, celebrities, and even some jurors from his trial who expressed doubts about his guilt. However, prosecutors and law enforcement maintained their belief in Cantu’s guilt, citing evidence presented during the trial.
Despite claims of new evidence casting doubt on his conviction, including witness statements provided by an investigator, Cantu was executed as scheduled. This marks the first execution in Texas this year and reiterates the state’s position as one of the most active in carrying out capital punishment.