document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Crime Library | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Ivan Abner Cantu was booked on 8/16/2021 in Collin County, Texas. The next time I saw Ivan, we sat there crying. On the night of the murder, he returned to his apartment that he shared with his . His face was swollen and a substance that looked like blood was on his jeans and in his hair. Tests showed thatthe blood on his clothing belonged to Mosqueda. In this episode, she discusses her fight to keep Ivan alive on death row. Ivan has always maintained his innocence. But I don't want to do that. He also says theres a picture of my family, which I sent him years ago, taped to the wall of his cell. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action. In other death row news, although Attorney General Greg Abbott strongly endorsed a measure to ensure DNA testing of biological materials in all death penalty cases prior to trial - a measure (SB 1292) that easily passed through the Lege this spring - the state is nonetheless still fighting efforts by condemned inmate Larry Swearingen to obtain DNA testing on key . The purpose of this blog is to provide a space for my thoughts as I review potentially problematic cases. All Rights Reserved by Recently Booked. The brutal yet seemingly motiveless murder shocked the community, especially after that friend, University of Texas student Colton Pitonyak, fled to Mexico with a fellow student, Laura Hall, once Caves body was found. I'd written to a man 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 . That is, not until now. I had to keep reminding myself that this happened on a November evening in Dallas, all of this happened. Police found no evidence of forced entry at Mosqueda and Kitchens house. Join Date Jan 2014 Posts 33. I was determined to help Ivan after I realised he was innocent, but I would have helped him regardless no one should face the death penalty. While some things, like signing petitions, will work without Javascript you may encounter errors. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. 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. Hehadlearning difficulties, and Ivan, his fellow inmate, replied forhim, offering to assist with our correspondence. Ivan pleaded not guilty and has consistently maintained hes innocent. Ivan Cantu would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death Texas Death , Copyright 2023 My Crime Library | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Ivan Cantu was convicted of killing his cousin James and James's fianc Amy, but Ivan has maintained his innocence. Once every two or three months, Ispend the weekend at a nearby hotel and visit Ivan on a Saturday and then again on Monday. 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 case was brought before a grand jury, but there were no indictments. Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. According to court documents [] Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case is being reinvestigated. In one episode, Duff even finds Cantus ex-girlfriend; through their interview, he gleans evidence of how she might have been coached by police. 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. Can we count on your support today? He is now on death row, and for 13 years I have been his loyal friend. But the fact is that the governor appoints the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. The only picture I'd seen of Ivan was his mugshot online. If we are to continue executing individuals, we must be absolutely certain that the right person is behind bars, and in Ivan's case we are not so sure of that. While theres no record of physical evidence proving that he was at the crime scene no fingerprints, no shoe prints, no DNA the crime scene was all over him. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In addition, Cantu took jewelry and a vehicle from . He has very kind, loving eyes. 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. Death row was a horrifying place. 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. As well, upcoming case investigations are . Ivan did not receive a fair trial. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. In the 15 episodes released so far, some of the most compelling material is the family melodrama unleashed by the case, and listeners get a front-row seat to jailhouse calls between Cantu and his mom and aunt. But back in 2004, I had been inspired by progressive Catholics to reach out to someone on death row. Ivan Cantu would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. It seemed to be a crime of passion, but local police never solved the case. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. I held a giant white binder and read from it, as if it were a movie script. was 45 years old and doing a criminal justice degree inLouisiana when I met Ivan Cantu. At first I thought he was guilty. Your email address will not be published. Why doesnt this post mention that two officers went into cantus home the same morning, prior to obtaining the search warrant, the corvette was not there and there werent any bloody clothes?? He talked openly about the crime, who could have done it and why, and what he believes still needs to be investigated. Eventually I arranged to visit him. Just a stack of words on paper, they are also a chronicle of the past 13 years: descriptions to him of my travels as a development consultant; his accounts to me of trying to get innocence projects, journalists, and attorneys to listen to his case. Cantu took the engagement ring that had belonged to Kitchen and gave it to Boettcher. He and I write once or twice a month, and there is not a letter I receive in which he doesnt encourage me in some way, and ask how my son and husband are. It was mainly out of pity that I replied to Ivan. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Ivan Cantu would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. She, thus failed to argue that trial counsel were ineffective for conceding Ivan's guilt rather than argue his innocence. They lived in adjacent pods, as they are called on Texas death row, the Polunsky Unit. 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Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case has been reinvestigated. arguments. I still have a life to live. Ivan Cantu, Death Row Inmate TDCJ#00999399 But I know you have to ask that, I get it.. Later that same night, the state of Texas says, James cousin, Ivan Cantu motivated by his relatives drug debt and his own greed and jealousy killed Amy and James in an execution-style double murder. I was expecting a scrawny mobster type, but when they brought him in, I fell in love. - Trial counsel conceded his guilt during the closing argument. These cookies do not store any personal information. According to Boettchers testimony, Cantu called Mosqueda on the night of November 3, 2000 at approximately 11:30 p.m., and asked if he could come over to Mosqueda and Kitchens house. Cantu and Boettcher then went together to the victims house in Kitchens Mercedes. They initially zeroed in on just one suspect: a man who happened upon the flames. In Cantus case, there is evidence that the states star witness committed multiple counts of perjury. Instead they made jokes. Ivan Cantu was wrongfully convicted in 2001 for Capital Murder. Your browser currently has Javascript turned off. 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. As I read more about the crime, I didn't think he could have done it. Ivan Cantu was wrongfully convicted in 2001 for Capital Murder. Ivan's trial counsel called no witnesses for the defense and presented no evidence of his innocence. Join organizations large and small who've made the switch! Photograph: Beady Fontenot. Cantu then told Boettcher that he was going to their house to kill them, but Boettcher did not believe him. . But when the material arrived (a thumb drive along with printed documents), I started devouring all of it whenever I could during my crowded bus rides home through downtown D.C., and sitting up in bed, late into the night, after my son had gone to sleep. Ivan Cantu lived in an apartment with his girlfriend, Amy Boettcher, near where his cousin, James Mosqueda, lived with his fiancee, Amy Kitchen. ***Ivan Cantu has a scheduled Execution Date of April 26th 2023*** Cousins By Blood is a true crime podcast investigation, unfolding episode by episode. 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. View the profiles of people named Ivan Cantu. But Andreacchios mother didnt believe he had killed himself, and suspected foul play. I'd been divorced for more than 10 years and my son and daughter were in their 20s and had left home, but I wasn't looking for love. | Recently Booked | Arrest Mugshot | Jail Booking. Against Cantus wishes, the defense did not hire a private investigator, call any witnesses to dispute the states case, present any evidence on Cantus behalf, and conceded Cantus guilt in the closing They also talk to Pitonyak and his parents as they grapple with how a National Merit scholar could have committed such a heinous crime. STATE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS- Counsel was not communicative with Cantu and rendered ineffective assistance by failing to challenge trial counsels performance at the guilt/innocence phase of trial. His struggle to live alone 23 hours a day. - According to multiple forensic pathologists, there is at least a 6 hour difference in the victims time of death and when the states star witness testified the murders occurred. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I was 45 years old and doing a criminal justice degree inLouisiana when I met Ivan Cantu. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. I was 45 years old and doing a criminal justice degree in Louisiana when I met Ivan Cantu. April 15, 2021 mycrimelibrary.com 1 comment. Ivan Cantu left his apartment with his gun and returned an hour later driving Kitchens Mercedes. Duff keeps adding episodes as he uncovers more information, and the storytelling is initially clunky but its a riveting story that continues to pick up steam in newer episodes. Ivan Cantu Texas Death Row. Cousins by Blood is like a low-budget Serial with more twists. This website uses cookies for personalisation. Ivan would help Johnny write letters, but he was looking for his own friends on the outside, too. The film was released on Disney Plus on August 14, 2020. The podcast is narrated by Duff, who uncovers potentially planted evidence, new information impeaching the testimony of Cantus girlfriend, and plenty of other suspects from the cousins shadowy underworld ties. Ivan did not receive a fair trial. 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. Great to see this former WWE legend still doing very well. Texas Death Row Inmates List. CounterClock keeps listeners hooked as it closes in on the cases likeliest suspects. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. It was part of a campaign to overturn his sentence for a 1979 rape and murder. I told my friends at the casino where I work that I was writing to Ivan as part of my law degree, but when I said it was developing into something more, they asked if I was sure. In the 70s, they embarked on a trip from Australia to Central America, keeping their family in the loop about their journey through letters. Phone records showedsomeone was in his house the night after the murders. I live the mundane life of a working mother in Washington, D.C. packing lunches, taking the bus to work, attending meetings, reading stories to my child at night, and, usually, falling asleep before 10. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's . Ivan is a man of action. 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. Death row was a horrifying place. Thankfully, were in a golden era of true crime storytelling, especially in podcast form. To learn more about Ivan's case, head over to the Cousins By Blood Podcast. "Oh my God, I did not," he replied. I hadn't told him of my feelings. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. This entire time, Ivan has never been been given all the evidence into the investigation of this case. That was July 2005. Ivan Cantu. We're filing an appeal to the Supreme Court. 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. This 11-episode series is a chilling account of an unlucky couples collision with a serial killer. 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Contact Alessa Dominguez at alessa.dominguez@buzzfeed.com. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Full documentation, knowledge base, and tutorial videos are available here. According to court documents Ivan Cantu would fatally shoot his cousin and a woman during a botched robbery. This feature has been discontinued. ** This post is showing arrest information only. 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But the person presented at trial doesnt match the one I know: a friendly and intelligent man who cuts out New Yorker cartoons and tapes them to his typewritten letters. Why am I complicating our lives in this way? 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. Once the door to his pod is locked, he sits on a chair and pushes his . Home; Search. US zip codes to cities powered by SimpleMaps.com. The new Disney film The One and Only Ivan is a fantasy story for all ages. Someone had known he would be out and had planted the jeans. Cousins By Blood Trailer May 01, 2022. 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? I dont believe in the death penalty, and even if he is guilty, I dont think he should die. Season 2 begins with the introduction of Ivan's biggest champion over the past 14 years, Ivan's wife Tammy. I did not believe him they lived in adjacent pods, as they are called Texas., and for 13 years I have been his loyal friend and why and. Ivan is a chilling account of an unlucky couples collision with a Serial killer support the. Counterclock keeps listeners hooked as it closes in on the outside, too who 've made the!... One suspect: a man on death row in Texas whose story I was 45 years old and doing criminal! Had to keep reminding myself that this happened on a November evening in Dallas, of! 23 hours a day shoot his cousin and a vehicle from looking for own. Found no evidence of his cell also have the option to opt-out of these cookies may your. And in his house the night of the Board of Pardons and Paroles in podcast form could... 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