Cousins By Blood

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Cousins By Blood is a true crime podcast investigation, unfolding episode by episode. In 2000, Ivan Cantu was arrested for the murders of his cousin James Mosqueda and Amy Kitchen, James's fiancé. Now 20 years later, questions about Ivan's guilt or innocence remain. So, the case is being reinvestigated by private investigator Matt Duff. New suspects will be uncovered, new evidence will be discovered, and the clock is ticking to Ivan's Execution Day. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

Matt Duff


    • Mar 1, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 39m AVG DURATION
    • 80 EPISODES

    4.6 from 1,048 ratings Listeners of Cousins By Blood that love the show mention: ivan, new trial, death row, cantu, reasonable doubt, wrongful conviction, petition, railroaded, innocent, intriguing story, attorneys, cousins, lawyers, infuriating, outrageous, bailey, defense, heartbreaking, amy, defend.


    Ivy Insights

    The Cousins By Blood podcast is an outstanding true crime podcast that will keep listeners hooked from start to finish. This gripping series dives deep into the case of Ivan Cantu, who has been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for a double murder he claims he did not commit. The podcast is well-produced, thoroughly researched, and expertly narrated by the host, Matt Duff.

    One of the best aspects of The Cousins By Blood podcast is its meticulous investigation into Ivan's case. The host leaves no stone unturned as he uncovers new evidence, interviews witnesses, and explores alternative theories. Listeners will be impressed by the depth of research and attention to detail presented in each episode. The storytelling is clear and easy to follow, even though the case itself is complex. The podcast successfully takes a complicated story and makes it understandable for everyone.

    Another standout aspect of this podcast is its commitment to justice. It's clear that the host genuinely cares about finding the truth and righting a potential miscarriage of justice. This dedication shines through in every episode, allowing listeners to feel invested in Ivan's case and hopeful for his exoneration. The inclusion of round table discussions with experts and other perspectives adds another layer of depth to the storytelling.

    While there are many positive aspects to The Cousins By Blood podcast, some listeners may find it difficult to listen to due to the heartbreaking nature of Ivan's situation. It can be frustrating and infuriating to hear about a potentially innocent person on death row, especially when there are strong indications that his defense was inadequate. Additionally, some episodes might be emotionally challenging for sensitive listeners due to graphic descriptions or distressing content related to the crime itself.

    In conclusion, The Cousins By Blood podcast is a must-listen for fans of true crime podcasts. It stands out among others in its genre due to its thorough investigation, compelling storytelling, and dedication to seeking justice for Ivan Cantu. While it can be difficult to listen to at times, the podcast is a powerful reminder of the flaws in our judicial system and the importance of relentless pursuit of truth. Whether you are new to true crime podcasts or a seasoned listener, The Cousins By Blood is worth adding to your playlist.



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    Latest episodes from Cousins By Blood

    Episode 48: The Final Chapter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 101:40


    The Final ChapterShow notes to come:

    2-28-25

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 0:57


    Final Episode

    Final Episode Still Coming

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 0:55


    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    TODAY - Execution Day Update 1 (Morning)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 0:58


    Yesterday Ivan's latest filings were denied by the CCA and Fifth Circuit court.It's my understanding as of now, the only hope that Ivan makes it past 6 pm today is the supreme court or relief from Texas Governor Abbott.There will be a gathering starting around 3pm at the Huntsville Unit.I'll keep you posted on the podcast feed and social media as much as possible through out the day. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 47: Ivan's 3rd Execution Date

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 20:33


    In this episode Ivan is interviewed by reporter Michael Hagerty and the latest bombshells are brought to light. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 46: Sister Helen Prejean

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 37:37


    An interview with Ivan's Spiritual Advisor. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 45: The Bullet

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 41:18


    In this episode, podcast listeners have come together to help with the investigation.  The Pear Ridge wall bullet comes into question. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 44: The Jury Foreman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 24:49


    In this episode, the jury foreman in Ivan's 2001 trial is interviewed. He shares his thoughts on the newly discovered information and if Ivan should be entitled to a new trial. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    New Episodes Are Back Next Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 3:01


    Ivan's 3rd scheduled execution is 5 weeks from now. New Episodes roll out next week and if you want to know what you can do, go to -- ivancantu.org and here is a link to the new petition. https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/save-ivan-cantu-before-the-state-of-texas-kills-him Here we go, again. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Podcast Update: New Episodes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 1:33


    Ivan's 3rd execution date is still currently scheduled for February 28th 2024. New Episodes will be coming in January. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Case Update: The CCA Dismissed Ivan's Habeas Application

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 2:58


    Episode 44 of Cousins By Blood will be coming out on this RSS feed ASAP. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    New on Patreon: The Mortgage Fraud Angle - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 1:47


    No ruling from the CCA this week.  New on Patreon, a multi part deep dive into an angle that hasn't been explored on the podcast - the Mortgage Fraud Angle. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    New on Patreon: What Happened to Amy Boettcher

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 1:47


    No ruling from the CCA this week. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    What Happened to Mike Sargent?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 1:24


    No ruling again this week from the CCA on Ivan's case. While we wait for the next chapter of CBB... find out about the Mike Sargent saga. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    This Week on Patreon - First Interview of the Podcast (June 2019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 1:54


    No decision from the CCA this week. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    A Message from Ivan on his 50th Birthday

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 3:59


    This week on the Patreon, a video interview with Ivan 36 days before his scheduled Execution. (Video Courtesy of Univision) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Ivan's Upcoming Bday & Patreon Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 1:57


    In this week's Patreon, an intriguing interview with Ivan's manager at Souper Salad has been added. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Patreon Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2023 1:02


    This week a Video Interview with Tawny has been added. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 43: The First Subsequent Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 22:53


    In this episode we review the claims in Ivan's Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus... and the possible outcomes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 42: The Jeff Boettcher Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2023 33:59


    Collin County takes a trip up to Minnesota. In this episode we hear the 2022 interview between the Collin County Assistant DA, a DA investigator and Jeff Boettcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 41: The Clemency Petition

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2023 21:13


    Ivan's Clemency Petition was filed on April 4th, and in it was a bombshell... about Jeff Boettcher. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 40: The Closing Arguments

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 64:50


    In this episode the investigation is concluded, the closing arguments are given and we wait on the outcome. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 39: The Twenty Year Timeline - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 79:48


    Finishing up the 20 Year Timeline, this episode chronicles 2008 to current day; which includes a 2010 Oral Argument Hearing, 2012 interview with Amy Boettcher, and the origin of the bloody shirt saga. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 38: The Twenty Year Timeline - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 79:26


    The episode chronicles 2002 to 2008; Ivan's Direct Appeal, State and Federal Writ of Habeas Corpus. Additionally, Goeller's affidavit on Ivan's confession and the bloody shirt are discussed. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 37: The Twenty Year Timeline - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2022 101:54


    This episode begins the chronicle of the case over the past 20 plus years. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 36: Ivan's Final Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 98:05


    Ivan discusses the other main players, the evidence against him, and Amy Boettcher. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 35: The Forensics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 101:30


    This episode will provide a comprehensive look at the forensic psychology, pathology, finger prints, ballistics, blood spatter, DNA and crime scene analysis Cantu Print Comparison on The Double Loop Podcast https://youtu.be/QJEgTbhTRlE --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 34: The Night

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 104:28


    This episode is the deep dive into the main hours in question and additional witnesses are interviewed. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 33: Dirty Pool

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 46:27


    There was a third person in Ivan and Amy's apartment the night of November 3rd 2000. She left just minutes before when Amy says Ivan committed the murders. In this episode, you'll hear her account of the time leading up to the murders and her experience at Ivan's trial. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 32: Loose Ends

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2022 52:07


    In this episode, new information comes to light about Ivan considering fleeing to Mexico after the murders and the mysterious call from inside the apartment while Ivan was in Arkansas. Also, Gambino is interviewed for a second time. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 31: Mark or Marty

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 58:48


    Ivan was incarcerated in Collin County Jail after his arrest, awaiting his trial. In this episode, another inmate comes forward with a story that puts a whole new spin on the Jail House Tapes. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 30: The Bloody Shirt

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 52:29


    In this episode three new elements of the case are discussed; an upstairs neighbor's testimony, witness statements about Ivan asking James for money before the murders, and a bloody shirt. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    CBB: The Final Season Continues Teaser

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 2:28


    Part 2 of Season 3 Continues on 4/1/22 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 29: The Pizza Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 37:02


    In this episode, a witness comes forward who says he saw a man driving a similar vehicle and had a similar appearance, as Ivan described "the Pizza Man." Ivan said a man, dressed as a Dominos Pizza Man, came into his apartment, put a gun to his head and told him James owed them 250,000 dollars for drugs. Ivan said the Pizza Man fired at the wall, to show him he meant business. Ivan said the Pizza Man is the reason he went over to James's house the following evening, to warn James. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 28: Oak Cliff

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 27:33


    In this episode, the anonymous tip that someone else killed James and Amy Kitchen is investigated, as well as other Oak Cliff connections are explored. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 27: Frank, the Roommate (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 41:21


    Frank's actions and whereabouts on November 4th 2000 are investigated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 26: Frank, the Roommate (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 54:52


    At the time of James and Amy Kitchen's murders, there was another person living in their home. This episode begins the 2 part investigation of Frank, the roommate. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 25: Gambino

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 35:31


    The investigation into the origin of the murder weapon continues, as a previous interview with Gambino is analyzed. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 24: The Murder Weapon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 39:20


    In this episode, the origin of the murder weapon is investigated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 23: The Thumbprint

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 68:35


    In this Season 3 opener, the most significant piece of evidence tying Ivan to the murders is investigated -- the thumbprint found on the magazine of the murder weapon. A video presentation and excerpt images of the fingerprint report is available at https://cousinsbybloodpodcast.com/fingerprint --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Supplemental for Episode 23: Fingerprinting History

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 50:01


    **LISTEN TO EPISODE 23 FIRST This is supplemental audio for Episode 23, in which Dr. Simon Cole discusses the history of fingerprinting and the fallibility within the discipline. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Season 3 Teaser

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2021 1:45


    The Final Season begins 9/17/21. The podcast website is now live at https://cousinsbybloodpodcast.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 21: Carlos and Anthony (part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 55:09


    In Part 1 of Season 2 Finale, we hear Carlos and Anthony's side of the story, their account of Ivan and the time leading up to the murders. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 22: Carlos and Anthony (part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 47:42


    In Part 2 of Season 2 Finale, more is uncovered about James's drug business and mortgage business. It is disclosed if there is any hard evidence tying Carlos and Anthony to the murders or setting up Ivan. And the upcoming investigation is established... --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 20: Bad Blood

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2021 48:20


    This episode, the origin of the 34x32 Arizona brand jeans is explored and we hear from a close friend of James and Amy Kitchen. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 19: The DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 60:20


    The DNA is discussed in this episode, as well as a call with Ivan from 2020. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Bonus Audio: Amy's 2012 Interview - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 49:59


    Amy Boettcher's interview with private investigator Eddie Frankum from 2012. Part 2 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Bonus Audio: Amy's 2012 Interview - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 54:32


    Amy Boettcher's interview with private investigator Eddie Frankum from 2012. Part 1 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 18: "Raina"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 41:16


    Ivan has said for 20 years, that the ring Amy B was wearing the night of the murders belonged to Raina. After 20 years, "Raina" has finally been located. In this episode, Sylvia goes over to Raina’s house to ask her about the ring. Also, the sub rosa hearing in Ivan’s trial is covered. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 17: The Syndicate

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 42:54


    In this episode, new information is discovered indicating that Amy B was wearing an engagement ring prior to the murders. Which would mean there would have been a second ring in play. Also, new revelations are uncovered about phone calls and a mysterious syndicate. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

    Episode 16: One Single Shell Casing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 43:41


    In this episode, problems with the ballistics in this case are discussed. A shell casing found at the crime scene lead 2 ballistics experts to believe a second gun may have been used in the murders. Also, Eichenberg interviews Ivan and we hear if she finds him credible. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/matt-duff9/support

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