We call that "spending the weekend together". Log In. Police obtained a search warrant to search the apartment a second time and found the bloody jeans, ammunition, a key to the victims house, and a key to Kitchens Mercedes. In the course of my investigation I will highlight the mistakes, corruption, and apathy that plagues the legal sys. Here are some under-the-radar podcasts making waves with true crime obsessives. He can choose to appoint members who will take valid claims and concerns more seriously, instead of acting like rubber-stamping gate-keepers. His response was immediate: Oh my goodness, no, he replied, solemnly. See more of Justice For Ivan Cantu on Facebook. His face was swollen and a substance that looked like blood was on his jeans and in his hair. Filters. . Prosecutors said Cantu, 49, killed his cousin, James Mosqueda, and his fiance, Amy Kitchen, execution style in 2000 in a revenge plot against his cousin. 12 Nicole Bass. - Trial counsel did not request a defense investigator, nor conduct any independent investigation. This website uses cookies for personalisation. The rest of my family think I'm crazy, but my daughter has met Ivan and likes him. Updated on 1 December 2021. Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about. Police found no evidence of forced entry at Mosqueda and Kitchens house. He also says theres a picture of my family, which I sent him years ago, taped to the wall of his cell. 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. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fianc. Hewas so frightened. They were arrested, and Pitonyak was eventually tried for Caves murder, while Hall was prosecuted as an accomplice. Once the door to his pod is locked, he sits on a chair and pushes his . Still, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff amid the proliferation of productions not all true crime podcasts get the attention thats lavished on S-Town or Serial. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Cantu and Boettcher then went together to the victims house in Kitchens Mercedes. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. I held a giant white binder and read from it, as if it were a movie script. Click here to learn more or change your cookie settings. Knowing that youre behind us means so much. As well, upcoming case investigations are . 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. Season 2 begins with the introduction of Ivan's biggest champion over the past 14 years, Ivan's wife Tammy. Such was the intensity and proximity of Cantu's gaze that even the normal business of glancing down to check recording levels was . Great to see this former WWE legend still doing very well. Booking Date(s) Default 1 Day Range. Additionally, police found Mosqueda's car at Cantu's apartment complex. - 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. Jeans and socks with the victim's blood on them, found in Ivans trashcan; James Corvette found parked in front of Ivans apartment the day after the murder. 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. When 21-year old Christian Andreacchio was found dead in his apartments upstairs bathroom, the police immediately ruled the death a suicide. Through chilling interviews with Boston's now-grown son, the truth about the couple's last hours is laid bare. If you do, enabling JavaScript should get around the problems. He has very kind, loving eyes. Real-time campaign data for partners powered by HVR. They also talk to Pitonyak and his parents as they grapple with how a National Merit scholar could have committed such a heinous crime. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action. 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. The case was brought before a grand jury, but there were no indictments. 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. It would have been an evening like any other except for the fact that it was the couples last. They initially zeroed in on just one suspect: a man who happened upon the flames. Required fields are marked *. She uncovers new suspects, like Johnsons former neighbor and occasional romantic partner who had a jealous girlfriend characterized as being unstable by everyone who knew her. I knew it would eventually happen, but it was still a shock. For a long time I didn't let my family know. Your email address will not be published. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. 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. His letters and cards now fill a Rubbermaid container nestled into a bookshelf beside my bed. . I am overwhelmed by all the evidence against Ivan. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Action Network partners get access to our full range of tools, including the ability to upload activists and subscribe them to your list, create custom-branded email and page wrappers, and more. 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'd written to aman on death row in Texas whose story I was interested in for my course. 12-17-2022, 07:51 AM #28. kabe1979. Can we count on your support today? Cantu then told Boettcher that he was going to their house to kill them, but Boettcher did not believe him. 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 . In his last appearance in 2011, Putski was still looking great and insanely jacked for a guy his age. Ivan and I wrote to each other during the next year and Ibegan helping him with his appeal. ** This post is showing arrest information only. That was July 2005. Hehadlearning difficulties, and Ivan, his fellow inmate, replied forhim, offering to assist with our correspondence. Ivan Cantu was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for a double murder robbery. Don't ask questions, just consume product and then get excited for next products. But back in 2004, I had been inspired by progressive Catholics to reach out to someone on death row. Ivan has been let down at every level of the justice system. Every week or two I leave my house at 4am and make the four-and-a-half-hour trip to see him. Cantu, Ivan Abner: TDCJ Number: 999399: Date of Birth: 06/14/1973: Date Received: 11/08/2001: Age (when Received) 28: Education Level (Highest Grade Completed) 12: . CounterClock keeps listeners hooked as it closes in on the cases likeliest suspects. I had to keep reminding myself that this happened on a November evening in Dallas, all of this happened. [Your Name]. The perplexing case seems made for Reddit, and this podcast unravels its many layers. He also was indictedin the slaying of Amy Kitchen, 22, Mosqueda's girlfriend. Click here to learn more or change your cookie settings. Cantu cleaned up, and Boettcher threw his bloody jeans into the trash. The couple later drove to Arkansas to visit Boettchers parents, where they were when the bodies were discovered the following evening. I never planned to be in this situation, to be friends with . On the night of the murder, he returned to his apartment that he shared with his . Tests showed thatthe blood on his clothing belonged to Mosqueda. Death row inmates get virtually no phone privileges, so calling hasn't been an option. He is now on death row, and for 13 years I have been his loyal friend. or. Email experience@theguardian.com, 'I certainly never imagined I would fall for someone on deathrow', Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 'Death row inmates get virtually no phone privileges, so calling hasnt been an option. He was 48 years old on the day of the booking. 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. Ive always believed his story, but only because I had no reason not to. This is a passive informational site providing organization of public data, obtainable by anyone. Copyright 2023. 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?? 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. Later that same night, the state of Texas says, James' cousin, Ivan Cantu motivated by his relative's drug debt and his own greed and jealousy killed Amy and James in an execution-style double murder. I still have a life to live. Ivan Cantu, Death Row Inmate TDCJ#00999399 Ivan admitted to keeping active on his spacious land in the Texas area. 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. In April 2007 he proposed and she stood in to read his vows for him at the county courthouse. It was part of a campaign to overturn his sentence for a 1979 rape and murder. Ivan has been on death row for 20 years and maintains his innocence. Eventually I arranged to visit him. 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. 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. 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. According to court documents Ivan Cantu would fatally shoot his cousin and a woman during a botched robbery. As I read more about the crime, I didn't think he could have done it. To: But Andreacchios mother didnt believe he had killed himself, and suspected foul play. Cousins By Blood Trailer May 01, 2022. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Cantu had Mosquedas and Kitchens identifications and keys. So I answered a plea from the Community of SantEgidio, a worldwide Catholic prayer and charity organization, to write a letter of solidarity to a mentally-disabled death row prisoner named Johnny Paul Penry. The genre runs the gamut from investigative journalists reconsidering unsolved crimes to chatty rehashings of some of the most famous cases and trials of our time. In the 70s, they embarked on a trip from Australia to Central America, keeping their family in the loop about their journey through letters. Ivan Cantu, the 44-year-old prisoner Stevens has come to see, is led, handcuffed, behind the row of booths by three officers. Page 3 of 3 First 1 2 3. 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. The podcast grew out of private investigator Matt Duffs inquiry into the case of Ivan Cantu, a Latinx man from Texas who sits on death row for the execution-style murders of his then-27-year-old cousin and his cousins fianc in 2000. Donations from readers like you are essential to sustaining this work. Additionally, you may reach out now to the Board at bpp_clemency@tdcj.texas.gov and the Governor at https://gov.texas.gov/contact/ and (512) 463-1782. 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Send us an email with your name and your message at support@actionnetwork.org and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. 7 True Crime Podcasts To Listen To As You Self-Isolate, Unsolved Mysteries Is Like Watching A Reddit Thread Come To Life. All data on this site is obtained directly from law enforcement agencies in their respective states and counties, and is public domain. Phone records showedsomeone was in his house the night after the murders. I fell apart. And because we are friends, we also talked about the mundane: music, books, NPR shows, anything to get his mind off the bleakness of solitary confinement. But the fact is that the governor appoints the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The movie narrates the heartwarming story of a silverback lowland gorilla named Ivan who lived . 384 people follow this. Someone had known he would be out and had planted the jeans. The new Disney film The One and Only Ivan is a fantasy story for all ages. The philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich once wrote, Doubt is not the opposite of faith. 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. Eventually I arranged to visit him. The podcast is also available for downloads on all major podcast platforms. Cousins By Blood is a true crime podcast investigation, unfolding episode by episode. But I don't want to do that. US zip codes to cities powered by SimpleMaps.com. It seemed to be a crime of passion, but local police never solved the case. So much does not add up. ***Ivan Cantu has a scheduled Execution Date of April 26th 2023*** Cousins By Blood is a true crime podcast investigation, unfolding episode by episode. Helmed by director Thea Sharrock, The One and Only Ivan is based on author K. A. Applegate's novel by the same name. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain and the case is being reinvestigated. He brings vast creative experience to every task . 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. Photograph: Beady Fontenot. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The podcast also focuses on the behavior and motivations of Andreacchios then-girlfriend, who has since sued both the family and the podcast. 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. He should have another trial. I never planned to be in this situation, to be friends with someone who could be executed. We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case. He determined the Watch List feature to be one of the biggest consumers of his time and deemed it non-essential to the site's core function. But one of the first things I asked that visit was whether he had killed those people. He knows how to get the job done fast, accurately and right on target. He is an inexhaustible source of creative ideas. The prosecution and investigating officers improperly coached witnesses and withheld evidence from the defense. Ivan Cantu is scheduled for execution on April 26th, 2023 in Texas for allegedly killing his cousin, James Mosqueda, and his cousin's fianc, Amy Kitchen. He spoke rapidly during our hours together, anxiety and desperation pervading his words and gestures. He needs to go too. We have only two hours together. Anyway, she had been contacted by Ivan Cantu's (convicted murderer and subject of Cousins By Blood ) Mother, due to her wrongful conviction advocacy and became aware of the case, binged the podcast, was convinced of Cantu's guilt, offered her assistance and was accepted into the . Mosqueda 's girlfriend or two I leave my house at 4am and make the trip... Now fill a Rubbermaid container nestled into a bookshelf beside my bed Andreacchios... The Justice system his parents as they grapple with how a National Merit scholar could have committed a! 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