Prosecutors said Cantu, 49, killed his cousin, James Mosqueda, and his fiance, Amy Kitchen, execution style in 2000 in a revenge plot against his cousin. Both were found guilty; at his trial, Pitonyak claimed he didnt remember the killing, so what actually happened and why remains murky to this day. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. One day my daughter and Iwere shopping and I was looking at cards for Ivan and she said: "Were you ever going to tell me you loved this guy?" As well, upcoming case investigations are . View the profiles of people named Ivan Cantu. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. The petition calls for Dallas PD and Collin County Sheriff's Office to release the entirety of the evidence in the James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen homicide reports (Dallas PD service #863688-J) to Ivan's attorney Gena Bunn. He had learning . The Supreme Court madeno comment Monday regarding its decision. I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of saving Ivans life while knowing at the same time how little I could actually do. I left the prison that day shaken. They initially zeroed in on just one suspect: a man who happened upon the flames. We have only two hours together. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. Hewas so frightened. We're filing an appeal to the Supreme Court. We've never been able to touch. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an appeal from a Dallas man who shot and killed his cousin in a botched 2000 robbery and is now on death row. Later that same night, the state of Texas says, James' cousin, Ivan Cantu motivated by his relative's drug debt and his own greed and jealousy killed Amy and James in an execution-style double murder. A waitress arriving. Why am I complicating our lives in this way? We are writing to ask that you to stop the April 26, 2023 execution of Ivan Cantu for the 2001 killings of James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case has been reinvestigated. In Cantus case, there is evidence that the states star witness committed multiple counts of perjury. And because we are friends, we also talked about the mundane: music, books, NPR shows, anything to get his mind off the bleakness of solitary confinement. In addition, Cantu took jewelry and a vehicle from . The new Disney film The One and Only Ivan is a fantasy story for all ages. Create new account. Last August, I visited Ivan on death row and asked him if he committed this crime. [Your Name]. Hehadlearning difficulties, and Ivan, his fellow inmate, replied forhim, offering to assist with our correspondence. was 45 years old and doing a criminal justice degree inLouisiana when I met Ivan Cantu. According to court documents [] I started to cry. The only picture I'd seen of Ivan was his mugshot online. Ivan's trial counsel called no witnesses for the defense and presented no evidence of his innocence. With Ivans execution approaching he lost his federal appeal in June, and if Texas has its way, hell probably be executed within a year theres nothing left to lose. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In this 13-episode podcast, produced by Ashley Flowers of Crime Junkie fame, investigative journalist Delia DAmbra revisits the case, interviewing former neighbors, police officers, and Johnsons family members and friends, including a roommate who disappeared right after the killing. Deshawn Thomas Executes Homeless Man In St Louis, Sheborah Thomas Gets 40 Years For Killing 2 Kids, NFL Zac Stacy Gets 6 Months For Brutal Assault, Brendan Depa Charged For Knocking Out Teachers Aide, Jack Colton Charged In Sexual Assault Of 12 Yr Old, Taylor Frankie Paul Charged With Domestic Violence, Steven Pfeil Teen Killer Murders 2 In Illinois, Antonio Barbeau and Nathan Paape Teen Killers, Dylan Schumaker Teen Killer Murders 23 Month Boy, Lacy Aaron Schmidt Teen Killer Murders Ex Girlfriend, Amber Wright Teen Killer Seath Jackson Murder, James Parker And Robert Tulloch Teen Killers, Bobby Gonzales Teen Killer Murders Girlfriends Mother, Education Level (Highest Grade Completed). Log In. For some of us, nothing fills up free time quite like crime stories. They also talk to Pitonyak and his parents as they grapple with how a National Merit scholar could have committed such a heinous crime. Cantu, Ivan Abner: TDCJ Number: 999399: Date of Birth: 06/14/1973: Date Received: 11/08/2001: Age (when Received) 28: Education Level (Highest Grade Completed) 12: . Ivan Cantu, 38, who was condemned for killing his cousin in a robbery in 2000, received a stay of execution last week after the state filed a motion to withdraw his Aug. 30 execution date. That day Ivan and his girlfriend had taken a trip to Arkansas. Ivan thinks the victims were killed by rival drug dealers out to frame him he had become mixed up with the wrong people. (0 members and 1 guests). Police arrested Cantu for the murders. Texas Death Row Inmates List. Ivan Cantu (Paul Adams) by Dani Clark All data on this site is obtained directly from law enforcement agencies in their respective states and counties, and is public domain. When I sat in my living room, watching my sons face as he laughed at the cartoons on TV, I would think to myself, My child knows nothing about the worlds brutality, so why am I inviting this dark story into our house? He talked openly about the crime, who could have done it and why, and what he believes still needs to be investigated. Boettcher also said that when she saw Cantu on the night of the murder, his socks and pants were bloody. On November 3, 2000, a 22-year-old woman named Amy Kitchen went out for dinner at the El Rancho restaurant in Dallas, Texas, with her father, Jerry, and her fianc, James Mosqueda. Issues of concern: THE STATE- Evidence showing the states star witness committed perjury.- After Cantus conviction, the prosecution withheld evidence from the defense for 11 years.- Evidence that the prosecution and investigating officers improperly coached witnesses.- Post-conviction DNA testing could not definitively establish Cantu was wearing the clothing admitted into evidence. I still have a life to live." Ivan Cantu, Death Row Inmate TDCJ#00999399 We are further concerned that while the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, Texas has continued to go against trend by carrying on an aggressive execution schedule - targeting the poor, the mentally ill and . The purpose of this blog is to provide a space for my thoughts as I review potentially problematic cases. Filters. Police obtained a search warrant to search the apartment a second time and found the bloody jeans, ammunition, a key to the victims house, and a key to Kitchens Mercedes. It's about a man on Texas death row Ivan Cantu here is t. His letters and cards now fill a Rubbermaid container nestled into a bookshelf beside my bed. Once the door to his pod is locked, he sits on a chair and pushes his . Ive always believed his story, but only because I had no reason not to. In The Orange Tree, named after the condominium where the crime took place, two journalism students at UT, who found all the major players in the case, attempt to understand what led to Caves murder. To learn more about Ivan's case, head over to the Cousins By Blood Podcast. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case has been reinvestigated. Through chilling interviews with Boston's now-grown son, the truth about the couple's last hours is laid bare. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. On 28 March this year I learned Ivan had been given an execution date: 30 August. Booking Date(s) Default 1 Day Range. Action Network partners get access to our full range of tools, including the ability to upload activists and subscribe them to your list, create custom-branded email and page wrappers, and more. Deshawn Thomas Executes Homeless Man In St Louis, Sheborah Thomas Gets 40 Years For Killing 2 Kids, NFL Zac Stacy Gets 6 Months For Brutal Assault, Brendan Depa Charged For Knocking Out Teachers Aide, Jack Colton Charged In Sexual Assault Of 12 Yr Old, Taylor Frankie Paul Charged With Domestic Violence, Steven Pfeil Teen Killer Murders 2 In Illinois, Antonio Barbeau and Nathan Paape Teen Killers, Dylan Schumaker Teen Killer Murders 23 Month Boy, Lacy Aaron Schmidt Teen Killer Murders Ex Girlfriend, Amber Wright Teen Killer Seath Jackson Murder, James Parker And Robert Tulloch Teen Killers, Bobby Gonzales Teen Killer Murders Girlfriends Mother. Copyright 2023. Every week or two I leave my house at 4am and make the four-and-a-half-hour trip to see him. I hadn't told him of my feelings. The webmaster, who has been operating this site since 2000, wished to cut back on the amount of time required to keep it updated. In the last few years, Texas has been one of only a handful of states that have carried out death sentences - and it continues to do so targeting the poor, the mentally ill and people of color.Please sign the petition asking Governor Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case. US zip codes to cities powered by SimpleMaps.com. Ivan admitted to keeping active on his spacious land in the Texas area. Ivan Cantu Texas Death Row. In Culpables 15 episodes, host Dennis Cooper uncovers the failures of local police officers, reveals new eyewitness accounts about people who were at Andreacchios apartment, and parses forensic clues that actually point to a homicide in the 2014 death. Ivan's state habeas counsel failed to interview Ivan or conduct an independent investigation of the case. Police found no evidence of forced entry at Mosqueda and Kitchens house. On 11/04/2000 in Dallas, Cantu shot and killed a 27 year old Hispanic male (cousin to Cantu) and a 21 year old white female. Ivan Cantu maintains his innocence over the murder of his cousin. Phone records showedsomeone was in his house the night after the murders. This information does not infer or imply guilt of any actions or activity other than their arrest. Here are some under-the-radar podcasts making waves with true crime obsessives. It would have been an evening like any other except for the fact that it was the couples last. Death row was a horrifying place. Nice. Executing Ivan Cantu when there are numerous concerns about the veracity of the case against him is utterly irresponsible. If we're unsuccessful, Iwill be there for Ivan the day he is executed by lethal injection. Police also found Cantus gun at his ex-girlfriends house where Cantu and Boettcher had stopped on the way home from Arkansas. She, thus failed to argue that trial counsel were ineffective for conceding Ivan's guilt rather than argue his innocence. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It's not something I want to do, but I won't let him die alone. Rather than investigate potential witnesses and evidence which would have supported Ivan's innocence or challenge the State's case, trial counsel conceded Ivan's guilt before the jury, thereby rendering constitutionally ineffective counsel. Ivan Cantu was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for a double murder robbery. FkIzeGUXkAE8yqk.jpg FkIzsfsXwAEjKFu.jpg. Ivan Cantu. As I read more about the crime, I didn't think he could have done it. He has very kind, loving eyes. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. There's a nice chemistry between her and her co host/friend too. I'd written to aman on death row in Texas whose story I was interested in for my course. Terry Funk is not only still alive but looking pretty darn good after all . Updated on 1 December 2021. From: The perplexing case seems made for Reddit, and this podcast unravels its many layers. Photograph: Beady Fontenot. Ivan Cantu was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for a double murder robbery. Full documentation, knowledge base, and tutorial videos are available here. #ivancantu #cousinsbyblood #podcast I listened to this Podcast and just had to recommend it to yall. Ivan Cantu lived in an apartment with his girlfriend, Amy Boettcher, near where his cousin, James Mosqueda, lived with his fiancee, Amy Kitchen. The philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich once wrote, Doubt is not the opposite of faith. It was part of a campaign to overturn his sentence for a 1979 rape and murder. The genre runs the gamut from investigative journalists reconsidering unsolved crimes to chatty rehashings of some of the most famous cases and trials of our time. He is an inexhaustible source of creative ideas. Ivan Cantu, 44, had arguedthat his legal help during his 2001 trial was ineffective and didn't present evidence that provedhis innocence. The birth of my son. We do not control or endorse the conduct of users and make no representations of any kind about them. Ivan is 44; Im 42. Dani Clark is a writer and editor at an international development organization in Washington, D.C. Well never put our work behind a paywall, and well never put a limit on the number of articles you can read. For a long time I didn't let my family know. Perspectives from those who work and live in the criminal justice system. Texas' aggressive execution schedule marks it as an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. "I never committed murder, and I want to prove it to the world, prove it to the Mosquedas, the Kitchens, and come home. Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. . I held a giant white binder and read from it, as if it were a movie script. While Ivan Cantu and Amy Boettcher were on their way to Arkansas to visit her parents and announce their engagement, the murdered bodies of James and Amy Kit. Email experience@theguardian.com, 'I certainly never imagined I would fall for someone on deathrow', Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 'Death row inmates get virtually no phone privileges, so calling hasnt been an option. THE DEFENSE- While the state utilized five experts, the defense requested zero experts.- Trial counsel called no witnesses during the guilt/innocence phase and presented no exculpatory evidence. By continuing to browse and submitting your information, you agree to our use of cookies. Real-time campaign data for partners powered by HVR. Cantu and Boettcher left Kitchens Mercedes parked in the garage and drove off in Mosquedas Corvette. I never asked too much about the murders, never wanting to delve into that darkness. In April 2007 he proposed and she stood in to read his vows for him at the county courthouse. I knew that immersing myself in the details of the crime would mean trying to understand both sides, asking tough questions, and entertaining possibilities about Ivan that Id never allowed myself to. But one of the first things I asked that visit was whether he had killed those people. These cookies do not store any personal information. Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles & Governor Greg Abbott That is, not until now. That was July 2005. Such was the intensity and proximity of Cantu's gaze that even the normal business of glancing down to check recording levels was . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Ivan pleaded not guilty and has consistently maintained hes innocent. I feel very isolated nobody understands what I'm going through. I'd written to aman on death row in Texas whose story I was interested in for my course. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The next time I saw Ivan, we sat there crying. Ivan and I wrote to each other during the next year and Ibegan helping him with his appeal. I am overwhelmed by all the evidence against Ivan. All persons displayed here are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case is being reinvestigated. Ivan Cantu was convicted of killing his cousin James and James's fianc Amy, but Ivan has maintained his innocence. - Trial counsel did not request a defense investigator, nor conduct any independent investigation. In the course of my investigation I will highlight the mistakes, corruption, and apathy that plagues the legal sys. At the trial, the state argued that Cantu was motivated by greed and jealousy but, as in Serial, most of the case was actually built around the incriminating testimony from an informant: Cantus then-partner. The seven-part investigation doesnt answer all the questions surrounding the case, but it still provides a memorable journey into a story that resists easy conclusions. I said I couldn't remember my life without him and they said they would support me, even offering to help pay for some of my trips. Be investigated of us, nothing fills up free time quite like crime stories that provedhis innocence I read about. 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