Skip to main content
Tags: texas | capitol punishment | ivan cantu

Texas Executes Man Accused of 2000 Killing of Cousin, Fiancée

By    |   Wednesday, 28 February 2024 09:26 PM EST

Despite numerous protests from human rights advocates and celebrities, Texas executed Ivan Cantu, 50, on Wednesday evening for the murder of his cousin James Mosqueada and his cousin’s fiancée Amy Kitchen who were fatally shot in Dallas in 2000.

Cantu was pronounced dead at 6:47pm CT on Wednesday at Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville. He was executed more than 20 years after his initial conviction. "I want you all to know that I don’t think that this situation here will bring you closure," Cantu said prior to his execution.

Cantu had long maintained his innocence claiming that he was framed by a rival drug dealer of Mosqueada’s. He had argued that his counsel was ineffective, pointing out that no witnesses were called during the guilt-innocence phase of his trial.

The case took a turn when the jury foreman in the initial 2001 trial, Jeff Calhoun, learned of new evidence decades later.  A key witness in the prosecution’s original case, Jeff Boettcher, called investigators claiming he had lied about his initial testimony.

"By no means am I protesting the death penalty, by no means am I protesting our judicial system, and I’m certainly not protesting Gov. Abbott," Calhoun said before the execution, adamantly affirming his support for the governor. "I'm simply asking that this be looked at a little deeper before the unripened fruit is taken off the tree."

Cantu’s mother, Sylvia Cantu, had supported her son until the end telling CNN on Tuesday, "I’m still holding out hope that they press the pause button and allow Ivan’s attorney to go in there and present the evidence that she has," she said, "and hopefully, be able to exonerate him."

According to Texas Death Penalty Fact, The Lone Star State has executed 585 people since 1982, including eight in 2023.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


Newsfront
Texas executed Ivan Cantu, 50, on Wednesday evening for the murder of his cousin James Mosqueada and his cousin’s fiancé Amy Kitchen who were fatally shot in Dallas in 2000.
texas, capitol punishment, ivan cantu
299
2024-26-28
Wednesday, 28 February 2024 09:26 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved