Who was Texas inmate Ivan Cantu, executed for double murder?
Ivan Cantu
The southern US state of Texas on Wednesday (Feb 28) executed Ivan Cantu, convicted of fatallyshooting his cousin, James Mosqueda and his cousin's 22-year-old girlfriend, Amy Kitchen, in November 2000.
According tothe Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Cantu, 50, was put to death by using a lethal injection. The time of death recorded was 6:47 pm local time. Despite concerns over the method of execution, a TDCJ spokesperson said there were no issues with the injection, which took about 21 minutes.
Till his execution, Cantu maintained that he was innocent. In his final speech, he addressed the concerned families and pleaded his case.
“I’d like to address the Kitchens and Mosqueda families. I want you to know that I never killed James and Amy. And if I did, if I knew who did, you would’ve been the first to know any information I would’ve had that would’ve helped to bring justice to James and Amy,"Cantu said.
The prosecutors, however, have claimed that Cantu killed Mosqueda, who dealt illegal drugs, and Kitchen, as he attempted to steal a stash of drugs (cocaine, marijuana) and cash from his cousin's north Dallas home.
Watch |US: Alabama seeks to perform second execution using Nitrogen Hypoxia
)
Trump administration refunds $100 billion in tariffs after Supreme Court ruling
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
American blogger Perez Hilton, covered in blood, cuts himself during livestream, hospitalized after distressing incident
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Pradeep Rawat died at 74: Revisit the unforgettable roles that defined his career
)
'Affront to our sovereignty': Bangladesh slams India over Sheikh Hasina's Delhi press conference
)
Mark Zuckerberg apologises to Indian government over harmful content, platform errors amid PM video row
)
Sajeeb Wazed raises Indian security concerns, calls Bangladesh a 'failed state'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Who is Shreya Kalra? Meet the social media star who lifted the Lock Upp 2 trophy
)
The genetic roots of Tamils: 75,000 DNA markers decoded in latest study of Sangam-era settlement
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why are iPhones so expensive compared to Android phones?
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Did Trump's helicopter nearly collide with a passenger jet? US launches probe
)
'Dhoni Made Fleming Great': Panesar says ECB made the wrong choice for England Test coach
)
Childhood home of Neil Armstrong up for sale | Gravitas
)
Ex top Pakistan official blames economic woes on China: Here's how CPEC became a failure
)
‘Pakistan called for ceasefire, we kept them waiting’: Ex-CDS Anil Chauhan recalls Operation Sindoor
)
Munir-protege Mohsin Naqvi’s claim of unearthing huge scam triggers tremors in Pakistan’s power corridors
)
Pentagon draws up new nuclear strategy in the event of war with Russia and China
)
What’s happening in Nepal? How did a local clash turn into communal violence? WION Decodes
)
Scientists find descendants of ancient sea creatures trapped under Antarctica's Blood Falls
)
Trump goes 'bing bing bing' 11 times within 5 seconds at Iran war briefing
)
Strait of Hormuz deal with Oman being ‘finalised’: Iran’s foreign ministry
)
CJP's Saurav Das alleges YouTubers broke into his house, seeks Delhi Police action
)
$1.3 trillion vanished from chip stocks in days and demand never fell
)
Ghajini villain Pradeep Rawat passes away at 74 after battle with cancer
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian tanks are much lighter compared to US tanks
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Lock Upp season 2: Most dramatic and viral moments that kept fans hooked
)
Nvidia just put $5 billion into a company that has never shipped a product
)
'World's most beautiful village' with only 627 people generated Rs 58 lakh in traffic fines in 2025
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (August 3-9, 2026): Main Vaapas Aaunga, Uyir, Operation Safed Sagar- 6 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Did military GPS jamming cause a plane to crash in New Mexico? Here's what a report says
)
India deploys joint outbreak response team as Chandipura virus spreads in Gujarat, Rajasthan
)
Ceaser Gastelum killed during TikTok livestream: What was his last recording?
Cantu's claims of innocence
According to court documents submitted over the years, Cantu'sattorney contested this claim. They said false testimony was presented at trial by the state’s key witnesses, including onewhohas since recanted.
The attorneys also contended a newly uncovered evidence supportingCantu's version that Mosqueda was targeted and killed by rivals who also threatened Cantu over his cousin’s alleged debts.
Among those expressing doubts about Cantu's conviction was the foreman of the jury that presided over his 2001 trial.
Jeff Calhoun, in an article in the Austin American-Statesman, asked for the execution to be delayed pending further investigation.
A MoveOn.org petition had urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to halt the execution. The petition even garnered nearly 150,000 signatures but ultimately proved insufficient.
Notably, capital punishment is abolished in 23 US states while six states viz.Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, have put a hold on its use.
Cantu's execution comes a month after Alabama inmate Kenneth Smith was executed using nitrogen gas for the first time in US history.
(With inputs from agencies)