Dallas, Texas – An inmate in Texas who had maintained his innocence for over 20 years was executed on Wednesday for the fatal shooting of two individuals, including his cousin.
Ivan Cantu, 50 years old, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the 2000 killings of his cousin, James Mosqueda, and his cousin’s girlfriend, Amy Kitchen. Cantu repeatedly professed his innocence in the execution chamber as he was being put to death.
Prosecutors claimed that Cantu killed his cousin, who was involved in illegal drug dealing, and Kitchen during a robbery attempt at his cousin’s residence in north Dallas. Despite Cantu’s assertions that a rival drug dealer was responsible for the murders, he was convicted in 2001 based on evidence presented in court.
Cantu’s attorney chose not to file a final appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, stating that there was no viable path for the case to be reviewed. Lower courts had previously denied Cantu’s requests to stay the execution, citing procedural grounds and the lack of credible new evidence that would cast doubt on his guilt.
Efforts to delay Cantu’s execution had garnered support from various individuals, including faith leaders, celebrities, and politicians. However, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis stood by the evidence presented during the trial, maintaining his belief in Cantu’s guilt.
New witness statements and evidence were cited by Cantu’s defense team to support his innocence claim, including threats made against the cousin prior to the murders. Despite these efforts, Cantu was put to death, becoming the first execution in Texas this year.
The next scheduled execution in Texas is not until June 26, with one inmate previously slated for March 13 receiving a stay from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The case has reignited debates surrounding the death penalty and the possibility of wrongful convictions in the state.