A Somber Plea: Texas Killer Asks for Forgiveness Before Facing Justice

It was a somber Wednesday evening, April 24, 2024, when Ivan Cantu, convicted of a brutal double murder decades ago, faced his final moments. In the death chamber in Huntsville, Texas, just before the lethal injection began its irreversible work, Cantu offered a direct, if somewhat ambiguous, plea to the families of his victims. He looked at them and simply asked for their forgiveness.

“I want the victims’ families to know how much I love them,” Cantu said, his voice, no doubt, echoing with the gravity of the moment. “I want them to know that I am not a murderer. I am not a killer.” It was a statement that, in a way, captured the enduring tension of his case: a plea for absolution coupled with a continued assertion of innocence, even at the very end. He then went on to thank his own family and supporters, concluding with a simple, yet poignant, “Where’s the love, where’s the peace?”

For the families of James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, the victims of the 2000 murders that sent Cantu to death row, the moment was likely a culmination of two decades of profound grief and a relentless pursuit of justice. Mosqueda, Cantu's cousin, and Kitchen were found shot to death in a North Dallas home, a scene of unimaginable horror. Authorities believed Cantu, then 27, had killed them both, allegedly over drugs and money, then stolen Mosqueda's truck, wallet, and a gold Rolex watch.

It’s hard to imagine the pain and the sheer exhaustion of waiting so long for a resolution. After the execution, Jeff Mosqueda, James's brother, stepped forward to speak on behalf of his family, his words a testament to their unwavering belief in Cantu’s guilt. “James and Amy can finally rest in peace,” he stated, a palpable sense of closure in his voice. He didn't mince words, describing Cantu as a “cold-blooded murderer” who never truly expressed remorse for the heinous acts. For them, this was not just an execution; it was the final, definitive step in a long, arduous journey toward some semblance of peace.

Cantu's path to the execution chamber wasn't without its own significant twists and turns, marked by a tireless effort from his legal team and a growing chorus of advocates who believed he might be innocent. They presented what they claimed was new evidence, pointing fingers at another man and arguing that key witness testimonies had been unreliable or even recanted. Documentaries, podcasts, and even celebrity endorsements emerged, all shining a spotlight on the case and urging for a stay of execution.

Yet, despite these fervent pleas and the detailed arguments for reconsideration, the courts consistently upheld Cantu’s conviction. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and later the U.S. Supreme Court, declined to intervene, effectively clearing the path for the execution to proceed. Ultimately, Governor Greg Abbott also chose not to grant clemency, solidifying the state's decision.

This marked a significant moment for Texas, as Ivan Cantu became the first person executed in the state in 2024. The last execution in Texas had taken place back in February 2023. His death serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding capital punishment, the enduring pain of loss for victims' families, and the finality of the justice system.