If they turn us down we'll file to the clemency board, asking them to reverse his sentence to life in prison. Cantu took the engagement ring that had belonged to Kitchen and gave it to Boettcher. He also says theres a picture of my family, which I sent him years ago, taped to the wall of his cell. She says she sees how much he loves me. Nice. Join organizations large and small who've made the switch! 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. Hehadlearning difficulties, and Ivan, his fellow inmate, replied forhim, offering to assist with our correspondence. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Cousins By Blood Trailer May 01, 2022. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Crime Library | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. Yes, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles must recommend clemency in that state in order for the Governor to grant clemency (mercy) by commuting a death sentence. I knew it would eventually happen, but it was still a shock. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I still have a life to live. Ivan Cantu, Death Row Inmate TDCJ#00999399 Ivan had been sentenced for murdering his cousin and his cousin's fiancee at their home in Dallas. By continuing to browse and submitting your information, you agree to our use of cookies. I was 45 years old and doing a criminal justice degree in Louisiana when I met Ivan Cantu. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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He can still use his position of power and influence to enact justice in the State of Texas. That day Ivan and his girlfriend had taken a trip to Arkansas. It was mainly out of pity that I replied to Ivan. Once every two or three months, Ispend the weekend at a nearby hotel and visit Ivan on a Saturday and then again on Monday. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. But I know you have to ask that, I get it.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Booking Date(s) Default 1 Day Range. I feel I'm in a prison, too. The next time I saw Ivan, we sat there crying. Ivan Abner Cantu - Texas Execution - April 26, 2023, http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions16-70016.0.pdf, http://www.dallasnews.com/news/courtal-second-time, https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.es/16-7874.htm, https://www.usnews.com/news/best-stan-on-death-row, High-Profile Non-Capital Punishment Trials, Remembrance, Missing Persons, Unsolved Murders, North Carolina - Female Death Row Inmates, Inmates No Longer On Death Row - Executed, Commuted or Released (Members Only), Death Row Inmates and Former Death Row Inmates Who Died in Prison. His letters and cards now fill a Rubbermaid container nestled into a bookshelf beside my bed. Ivan and I wrote to each other during the next year and Ibegan helping him with his appeal. 12 Nicole Bass. In his last appearance in 2011, Putski was still looking great and insanely jacked for a guy his age. Can we count on your support today? Nonprofit journalism about criminal justice, A nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. ***Ivan Cantu has a scheduled Execution Date of April 26th 2023*** Cousins By Blood is a true crime podcast investigation, unfolding episode by episode. Community See All. Instead they made jokes. He was convicted largely on the testimony of his then girlfriend, who claimed he was covered in blood on the night of the murders, but apart from some blood-smeared jeans found in a bin in his home in Dallas (which were two sizes too big for him), no evidence ever linked Ivan to the crime scene. All Rights Reserved by Recently Booked. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Create new account. 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. The webmaster, who has been operating this site since 2000, wished to cut back on the amount of time required to keep it updated. (0 members and 1 guests). 7 True Crime Podcasts To Listen To As You Self-Isolate, Unsolved Mysteries Is Like Watching A Reddit Thread Come To Life. 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. Cantu and Boettcher left Kitchens Mercedes parked in the garage and drove off in Mosquedas Corvette. There, Boettcher saw both victims bodies through the doorway to the master bedroom, while Cantu was searching the house for drugs and money. Your email address will not be published. Log In. He is now on death row, and for 13 years I have been his loyal friend. Forgot account? His struggle to live alone 23 hours a day. I held a giant white binder and read from it, as if it were a movie script. Ivan is a man of action. 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. Paradise, a haunting narrative of their demise, is one of the darkest true crime podcasts out there. It's about a man on Texas death row Ivan Cantu here is t. During the trial, one of Cantu's former girlfriends, Amy Boettcher,testified that he had told her of his plans to kill Mosqueda and showed her the bodies after the act. The host, a BBC journalist, fleshes out the life of Farmer and Frampton through interviews with their families, including the formers sister, who wrote a book about the case. 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. Ivan Cantu would steal the victims jewelry and vehicle. At his trial, the state said it was a drug deal gone wrong. All persons displayed here are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Cantu then told Boettcher that he was going to their house to kill them, but Boettcher did not believe him. Ivan would help Johnny write letters, but he was looking for his own friends on the outside, too. Ivan wanted me to date and beable to have sex he said I had tolive my life. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. He knows how to get the job done fast, accurately and right on target. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Every week or two I leave my house at 4am and make the four-and-a-half-hour trip to see him. A version of this story appeared in the Jan 1-14, 2016 print issue under the headline: Talking with Ivan, I found a flame of life on death row. 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. I was expecting a scrawny mobster type, but when they brought him in, I fell in love. . I hadn't told him of my feelings. He should have another trial. April 15, 2021 mycrimelibrary.com 1 comment. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Watch List. He brings vast creative experience to every task . Ivan Cantu would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. The perplexing case seems made for Reddit, and this podcast unravels its many layers. The rest of my family think I'm crazy, but my daughter has met Ivan and likes him. 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. 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 . To: You can simply leave a voice message, or choose to speak to a representative if you prefer.Please note: In Texas, the Governor does have limited power when it comes to the death penalty. 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. The philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich once wrote, Doubt is not the opposite of faith. That was July 2005. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ivan admitted to keeping active on his spacious land in the Texas area. | Recently Booked | Arrest Mugshot | Jail Booking. 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. arguments. Ivan Abner Cantu was booked on 8/16/2021 in Collin County, Texas. The families are finally able to find their graves in Guatemala, giving listeners a rare sense of closure. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. Ferez-vous la mme chose. - Trial counsel conceded his guilt during the closing argument. Full documentation, knowledge base, and tutorial videos are available here. Cantu was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death on Oct. 16, 2001, for the slaying ofhis cousin, James Mosqueda, 27, in Far North Dallas. Cousins by Blood is like a low-budget Serial with more twists. The film was released on Disney Plus on August 14, 2020. 2 yr. ago. Ivan has been on death row for 20 years and maintains his innocence. ** This post is showing arrest information only. He was charged with CAPITAL MURDER IN COMM OF CITED OFFENSES. New suspects are uncovered, new evidence has been discovered, and the clock is ticking to Ivan's Execution Day. I never planned to be in this situation, to be friends with someone who could be executed. was 45 years old and doing a criminal justice degree inLouisiana when I met Ivan Cantu. But the story we are told that "it's out of the governor's hands," is only true if we allow it to be. I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of saving Ivans life while knowing at the same time how little I could actually do. Death row was a horrifying place. I didn't for a moment think he had the same feelings, but we talked as though we had been friends for years. 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. 367 people like this. Ivan Cantu, 44, had argued that . 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. He can choose to appoint members who will take valid claims and concerns more seriously, instead of acting like rubber-stamping gate-keepers. Join Facebook to connect with Ivan Cantu and others you may know. James, 27, leaning back, sipping a beer. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. He spoke rapidly during our hours together, anxiety and desperation pervading his words and gestures. Chris Farmer and Peta Frampton were a British couple in their twenties who dreamed of sailing around the world. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Such was the intensity and proximity of Cantu's gaze that even the normal business of glancing down to check recording levels was . 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. Knowing that youre behind us means so much. Ive always believed his story, but only because I had no reason not to. In Cantus case, there is evidence that the states star witness committed multiple counts of perjury. Paradise, a haunting narrative of their demise, is one of the darkest true crime podcasts out there. 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. 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. The U.S. Supreme Court declinedto review an appeal from a Dallas man who shot and killed his cousin in a botched2000 robbery and is now on death row. The couple later drove to Arkansas to visit Boettchers parents, where they were when the bodies were discovered the following evening. The only picture I'd seen of Ivan was his mugshot online. They interview Caves family to humanize her and give more context to her life and relationship with Pitonyak. The birth of my son. The Supreme Court madeno comment Monday regarding its decision. Ivan Cantu would steal the victims jewelry and vehicle. Then her apartment was set on fire. In the 70s, they embarked on a trip from Australia to Central America, keeping their family in the loop about their journey through letters. His response was immediate: Oh my goodness, no, he replied, solemnly. Ivan Cantu, the 44-year-old prisoner Stevens has come to see, is led, handcuffed, behind the row of booths by three officers. Why am I complicating our lives in this way? Through chilling interviews with Bostons now-grown son, the truth about the couples last hours is laid bare. It's not something I want to do, but I won't let him die alone. I fell apart. [Your Name]. He needs to go too. 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. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case has been reinvestigated. 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. About See All. It didnt cost me anything, and I knew it would cost him everything if he really was innocent and no one listened. I never planned to be in this situation, to be friends with . For over 3 years, the Cousins By Blood Podcast has investigated Ivan's capital murder case and innocence claim. 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. . or. The purpose of this blog is to provide a space for my thoughts as I review potentially problematic cases. 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?? 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. Ivan Cantu maintains his innocence over the murder of his cousin. Texas Death Row Inmates List. In one episode, Duff even finds Cantus ex-girlfriend; through their interview, he gleans evidence of how she might have been coached by police. 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. His face was swollen and a substance that looked like blood was on his jeans and in his hair. I'd written to aman on death row in Texas whose story I was interested in for my course. 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?" Additionally, police found Mosqueda's car at Cantu's apartment complex. 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. Kitchens Mercedes parked in the garage and drove off in Mosquedas Corvette pity that I replied to Ivan james 27. Are finally able to find their graves in Guatemala, giving listeners a rare of! By continuing to browse and submitting your information, you agree to our use of cookies closing.... 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