Ivan Abner Cantu was born on June 14, 1973, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in a working-class environment and was known to have a complicated relationship with both his family and the law. By the late 1990s, Cantu was living in the northern suburbs of Dallas, maintaining sporadic employment while also associating with individuals involved in criminal activity. He was in a relationship with Amy Boettcher, a young woman who would later play a central role in his trial. Cantu’s cousin, James Mosqueda, was a successful entrepreneur in the Collin County area, operating a legitimate business and living with his fiancée, Amy Kitchens.

On the night of 4 November 2000, Ivan Cantu drove to the Plano, Texas residence of his cousin James Mosqueda, 27, and Mosqueda’s fiancée, Amy Kitchens, 21. According to the prosecution, Cantu intended to rob the couple and eliminate them as witnesses. Evidence presented in court indicated that Cantu shot both victims multiple times — Mosqueda in the head and Kitchens in her bedroom. He then fled the scene, taking with him jewelry, clothing, and Mosqueda’s 2000 Mercedes-Benz. The next day, he reportedly boasted about his new possessions to his girlfriend, Amy Boettcher, who later testified against him.

The murders were discovered after family members and coworkers grew concerned about the couple’s absence. Their bodies were found inside their home in a gruesome scene that suggested a targeted attack. Within days, investigators connected Cantu to the stolen items. Police located Mosqueda’s vehicle and the victims’ personal belongings in Cantu’s possession. Forensic tests and witness statements reinforced the case that Cantu had planned and executed the robbery-homicides deliberately. He was arrested four days later, on 8 November 2000, after attempting to distance himself from the evidence.

During the trial in Collin County District Court, the prosecution argued that the murders were premeditated acts of greed. They presented testimony from Boettcher, who claimed that Cantu had confessed to the killings and showed her the stolen jewelry. The defense countered that Boettcher and others were unreliable witnesses, and that Cantu had been framed or misrepresented by investigators. Despite the defense’s objections, Cantu was found guilty on 8 November 2001 and sentenced to death. He was sent to the Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas, to await execution.

Over the next two decades, Cantu maintained his innocence and pursued numerous appeals. His case drew growing attention from anti-death penalty advocates, including journalists, human rights groups, and public figures who questioned the credibility of key witnesses and the reliability of the evidence. Some claimed that the police investigation was flawed, pointing out that new affidavits suggested potential inconsistencies in the testimony used to convict him. Nonetheless, all appeals were denied, and the courts upheld the original verdict.

Ivan Cantu was executed by lethal injection on 28 February 2024 at the Huntsville Unit in Texas, after more than 22 years on death row. In his final statement, he maintained his innocence and prayed for peace for the victims’ families. He was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m. local time.