Why did Iván Cantú get the death penalty?

• Iván Cantú’s execution took place in February.
• He was convicted of a double murder.
• He insisted he was innocent.

Iván Cantú was executed by the state of Texas on the night of February 28.

He had been on death row for over 20 years, as he appealed his conviction.

Cantú was accused of killing his cousin James Mosqueda and his fiancée, Amy Kitchen. But he insisted he was innocent.

Before you continue reading, we invite you to listen to the new Tu Mundo Hoy podcast by clicking HERE.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Was he innocent?

In his final statement, Iván Cantú reiterated that he did not kill Amy and James, according to CNN en Español.

Additionally, he said that he did not believe his execution would bring peace or closure to the families of the victims.

Iván was born in Dallas, Texas, in 1973. He was 27 years old and worked as a laborer at the time of the murders.

Up until Iván Cantú’s execution, he insisted that he was innocent, but his appeals were unsuccessful.

Iván Cantú’s execution

In his final statement before his execution, Iván Cantú said: «I want you to know that I never killed James and Amy.»

He added that he didn’t believe that his death would bring the victims’ families closure.

According to BBC, Mosqueda and Kitchen were murdered on November 4, 2000, in their home in Dallas.

They had been shot multiple times in their bedroom.

Controversy surrounding the death penalty

When the bodies were found, Cantú and his girlfriend, Amy Boettcher, were in Arkansas. Nonetheless, Iván was the only suspect.

Private investigator Matt Duff spent four years investigating the case and tried to help prove Cantú’s innocence.

He found evidence supporting Iván Cantú and revealed what he discovered in a podcast.

Cantú’s execution highlights the controversy surrounding the death penalty in the United States, where since 1976, 1,583 people have been executed and 294 pardons have been granted.

Iván Cantú’s mother pleaded for her son

Iván Cantú was not the only alone in insisting that he was innocent.

His mother, Sylvia Cantú, led a public campaign in defense of her son.

«The evidence was manipulated. Stop my son’s execution. This is not right, you know it’s not right,» she said.

Despite several high profile people taking up his case, Ivan Cantú’s execution went forward.

Reflecting on the death penalty

On the night of February 28, Ivan Cantú became a symbol of the uncertainties and ethical dilemmas surrounding the criminal justice system, according to BBC

Ivan Cantú’s execution reignites the debate about the effectiveness and ethics of the death penalty in a society facing constant challenges in its judicial system.

It also raises questions about fundamental human rights, according to CNN en Español.

The struggle for justice and truth continues, while Iván Cantú’s case leaves unanswered questions and deepens reflection on the American penal system.