A Texas man who had long maintained his innocence was executed on Wednesday for fatally shooting two people.
Ivan Cantu, 50, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the November 2000 fatal shooting of his cousin, James Mosqueda, 27, and his cousin's girlfriend, Amy Kitchen, 22.
In his final words in the execution chamber, he addressed relatives of Mosqueda and Kitchen and repeatedly said he was innocent.
"I want you to know that I never killed James and Amy," Cantu said, according to a transcript provided to Newsweek by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. "And if I did, if I knew who did, you would've been the first to know any information."
He said he wanted them to know he didn't think his death would bring them closure.
"If it does, if this is what it takes or have any reservations off in your mind, then so be it," Cantu said.
He continued: "This is not going to help you guys and I want you to know from me that it never occurred. No. I want all of you to know I did not kill James and Amy."
Cantu then thanked his attorney, mother, friends and supporters and urged that his case continue to be investigated to prove his innocence.
"I would like to address and thank my attorney Gene Bund, I'd like to thank my mom, Sylvia Cantu, Matt Duff, Michael Frazier, and of course Sister Helen (Prejean)," he said. "Everyone that came to my rescue to help me, including my family and my friends and my supporters.
"Everyone that blessed me to be in this position and it was an honor to work with all of them, but I would especially like to thank Matt Duff for believing in me and digging deep and unraveling the case that he did to prove to the world that I do not belong on this gurney, to keep up the fight and to keep searching and doing what needs to be done to find all the answers and bring closure to the truth to the Kitchens and Mosqueda family."
He invoked a bible verse, Matthew 6:21, and then said, "Warden I'm ready."
Prosecutors said Cantu killed Mosqueda, who dealt illegal drugs, and Kitchen as he tried to steal cocaine, marijuana and cash from his cousin's north Dallas home, according to The Associated Press. Cantu had long claimed that a rival drug dealer killed his cousin in a dispute over money.
Before his final words, his spiritual adviser, Helen Prejean held in her hand his right hand that was strapped to the death chamber gurney and prayed quietly over him, the AP reported.
He began snoring as the lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital began flowing. After the eighth snore, which was accompanied by a gasp, he stopped moving. He was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. local time, 21 minutes after the drugs were administered.
Cantu's was the first execution carried out in Texas this year.
Another execution scheduled for Wednesday in Idaho was suddenly halted hours earlier after a medical team repeatedly failed to establish an IV line needed to administer a lethal injection.
Update 2/29/24, 3:45 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on abortion rights, race, education, ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
