The young Mexican Irineo Tristán Montoya, 30 years old, was executed by lethal injection on June 18, 1997, in the execution chamber in Texas. Montoya had been sentenced to death for the murder of John Edgar Kilheffer in 1985, one of the 21 stab wounds that ended Kilheffer's life.
During Irineo Tristán's funeral, hundreds of people gathered to protest what they considered the murder of an innocent man. His body was repatriated to Pueblo Viejo, Veracruz, for burial. Despite the years that have passed, Irineo's memory remained alive among his compatriots.
Irineo Tristán had come to the United States seeking a better life but was captured and sentenced to death in 1986, following a series of violent events that involved him in Kilheffer's murder. Throughout the legal process, Irineo maintained his innocence, claiming he was tricked into signing documents in English that he did not understand.
Despite the efforts of his family, Mexican authorities, and human rights organizations, Texas authorities stood firm on the death sentence for Irineo. During his final hours, he was able to reunite with his parents and convey his love and innocence to them before being executed.
Irineo Tristán expressed his last words before his execution, stating that the justice system did not work for minorities and that one life cannot be paid with another. He affirmed he was at peace with God and waiting for his loved ones in paradise.
