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In November 2000, a successful real estate broker called James Mosqueda and his fiancée, Amy Kitchen, were discovered shot to death at their house in Dallas, Texas. They were both in their 20s, and the man convicted of their murder was James’s own cousin, 28-year-old Ivan Cantu. At trial, the jury heard how he had killed them amid simmering family jealousies and a desire to steal drugs and cash he believed James had at the house from selling drugs. In an instant, three families’ lives were torn apart.

Ivan Cantu was sentenced to be executed for his crime in 2001 and transferred to death row. There he protested his innocence for almost 20 years, before a true crime podcast came to his aid. Cousins by Blood raises questions around Ivan’s case and spawns a growing campaign that attracts celebrity support, including from Kim Kardashian. It also sheds light on new evidence that Cantu’s legal team hope will grant him not only a stay of execution but a new hearing and potential freedom.

The victims’ families, however, never doubt Cantu’s guilt, believing him a violent man who was jealous of his cousin. To Amy Kitchen’s brother, Mark Kitchen, he has been attempting to lie his way out of facing justice for more than 20 years with what he describes as ‘the circus’.

In September 2023, the state set a new date for the execution. Unless Cantu and his supporters can come up with enough compelling evidence to win him a stay, he faces death on 28 February in Huntsville, Texas.

Life and Death Row captures the campaign for Ivan Cantu in the weeks leading up to his scheduled execution date as his supporters challenge the legal case against him and push for the hearing they believe may change his fate. His own efforts to coordinate the podcast and publicity from his death row cell succeed in convincing renowned anti-death penalty campaigner Sister Helen Prejean to join them. Her work was the basis for the Oscar-winning Hollywood film Dead Man Walking, and she campaigns for Ivan, as well as acting as his spiritual advisor – the person who will literally hold his hand during the execution, should it come.

Sister Helen brings more than just spiritual guidance; she comes with an impressive contacts book, pulling in more celebrities. Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen both post their support for Cantu’s innocence, alongside the tireless efforts of the podcaster behind Cousins by Blood, Matt Duff, and Ivan’s mother, Sylvia.

Without judgment, this thought-provoking film presents the views of those from both sides of the story and looks to provide a deeper understanding of justice in this case and how it’s impacted the lives of all involved.

Questions raised over the original trial created concerns over the safety of Cantu’s conviction and ask: should his execution go ahead?