This man is without a doubt innocent. I watched his story on 60 minutes AND there are NO words to describe how unfair the judge (IF you can call her that) treated Eric. She clearly wasn’t doing her job when she dismissed all those witnesses. I can’t wait to hear more about his case….HOW can I help ? This is a case of political racism (IF there is sucha thing)

Volz s guilty of something we will probably never know.

The Nica people defend their blood, and he obviously had no real Nica gente.

He should spend the rest of his life in Nica carcel.

I’m going to interview him as a military officer next month.

I am a Southerner, an ex-prisoner, a climber, a surfer, and a Sandinista as well. I want to see the repentence in his words and eyes myself.

Forget Dateline, listen to Radio Estereo Daniel!!!

The comments of “Daniel Brian” above exhibits the ignorance of the Nicaraguan people to basic facts. He is yet another example of what’s wrong with this world, no self-awareness or compassion whatsoever…

The above post has a faint glimmer of truth in it. Volz may be guilty of being too ambitious, too self-assured, maybe too “gringo” for Nicaragua. But, that is no crime. He is serving thirty years for rape and murder. You Daniel Brian, ex-con, self-proclaimed Sandanista, have forgotten the justice system that forged a political environment that grew the decedance that allowed you to become such things as a “surfer” and “climber.” Pull your head out of your ass and have some compassion for a man who is serving a sentence for a crime he’s not guilty of.

I just saw the story on MSNBC and I had to agree the judge didn’t seem fair. But I wonder why the defense didn’t try find the killer. I think the other boyfriend would have had a harder time to explain what he was doing during the killing. Anyways, Eric is lucky to have the resources and support many others don’t have. How often I hear people say “he was in the wrong place at the wrong time”. Just like in Nicaragua, here in USA we have terrible cases of injustice, such as in Chicago where hundreds were tortured and jailed by a cop who is living a comfortable life in Florida and still receiving a pension check.
Eric will eventually be free, I hope. I hope that he also turns this experience into something that makes him fight against injustices for other people.

i think thats its unfortunate what’s happenning to eric. i saw it in the program aqui and ahora and as i finish listening to his story i knew right away that he was innocent. the judge you can tell did not want to listen to anything his lawyer had to say. i feel that she wanted to find someone guilty and because he is american it made it easier for her. i feel she should be held accountable for her actions and she should resigned because she send an innocent man to jail.i hope she can sleep at night. ill say a prayer for him that god helps him get out soon when they appeal.

Nothing new or original, Just that I too am fully convinced of Erics innocence. It seems to me that the most convenient thing for that judge to do was to find a “gringo” guilty. What a disgrace!

I just saw the story on TV. It makes you think twice about traveling to these third world countries where anti-Americanism is rampant

It is evident this man is not guilty. They need to let him go. our government should be doing more to help with this injustice.

My question is, why wasn’t the other boyfriend interviewed? Also I don’t think there was enough
evidence to convict anybody. I think the fact that Eric being the ex-boyfriend showed no emotion
on the death of his ex during the program and was too assisting in helping of her death… I think his confidence level played a big roll. As for the Judge, I think she convicted him on her own emotions as most “POLITICIANS” do! And that’s what this is all about POLITICS…

Bob, in all of my experience traveling in Nicaragua and around the world, I absolutely have NOT found that “anti-Americanism is rampant” as you state above. I’ve heard quite a bit of anti-Bushism, but I disagree with your statement about “anti-Americanism”. Has this really been your experience?

“Volz s (sic) quilty of something we may never know.” A most telling comment, and one which gives voice to the vague, ignorance driven, hate filled, anti-American Nica nationalism that has been wiped up by the old/new Daniel Ortega Sandinista regime.

And: Interesting that Joshua finds “anti-Bushism” rampant, but not anti-Americanism. I find that odd, as most people in and around Nica are just not that politically attuned to American politics (or policies) to form those kinds of parsing opinions. I.e., “I like Americans, but I don’t like Bush.” Unless what they mean is they like American aid and tourist dollars but they dislike the idea of ever being held accountable for their actions as a nation.

In which case I would yawn and ask who cares what they think of our president. I imagine he isn’t liked in any number of places. Palestine, Iran, North Korea, Berkeley…

In the meantime, Eric Volz has gotten himself in a hell of a jam. My prayers are with him.

“most people in and around Nica are just not that politically attuned to American politics (or policies) to form those kinds of parsing opinions.”

K. Mac, if this is really your experience then you need to get out and talk to more Nicas — maybe this means taking some Spanish classes, I don’t know. This statement is so ridiculous and belittling that I’m dumbfounded. Just climb into any taxi in Managua, start a political discussion with your driver, and see what kind of “parsing opinions” Nicas are capable of.

I think anti-Eric sentiment is being confused with anti-American sentiment. Eric was one of those “foreign real estate sharks making off like bandits in this corner of the country” mentioned above. That’s how he got the money to start his silly magazine so that he could conquer more beautiful girls like Doris. I live in Central America and I see much less anti-North American sentiment there than I see anti-Central American sentiment here.
The case was not nearly as simple as it is made out to be. I think the judge made a mistake, I don’t think there was enough evidence to convict, but all the bad-mouthing of Nicaragua is uncalled for. The same thing could happen here. Eric was an unfeeling, arrogant opportunist who was possessive and controlling with Doris. He acted innapropriately throughout this epidsode and gave every indication of involvement. Nevertheless, his alibi is really impeachable and there is no good evidence. He should and will be released. Proper sympathy should go to the innocent murdered girl. She will never have a second chance. It is very likely that Eric will.

Who cares about Eric Volz? All of you think you know what happended because you watched a news special on him. Boy, those specials are never biased or sensationalized. Eric went to another country, he was disrespectful of their customs and their laws. He was able to make alot of money because he cared a less about the locals. His livelihood depended on the exploitation of the locals. Why is it impossible that he killed her? Because he is an american? Do any of you know Eric personally? Hey, here is an idea. Don’t come down here. Boycott Nicaragua and CA to show how angry you are. Do you think we care about your tourist dollars? You are a pestilance. Stay home.

Although I have not follwed the Voltz case, I was in San Juan del Sur around the time this happened, and have been there a few times since. Although there are quite a few opportunists working the area, the overall vibe is tranquil toward Americans. As some have incorrectly stated here in this blog, Anti-Americansim is not thriving in Nicaragua. Anti-facist, anti-self-indulgent egotistical behavior for sure… and sorry K. Mac, but trust me, Josh is right when he says hop into a taxi and start a political discussion. They have television, CNN, etc. and believe me they DO know the difference between humble Americans who just want to explore and the self-righteous Bush-loving Americans who come to exploit and destroy.

Eric\\\’s conviction has been overturned, and today, he was set free! Thank you everyone who prayed and kept him in your thoughts!!!

He is a killer. Where is the family’s voice?

I feel sorry for the victim’s family–they have a violent homicide turned into a cause celebre with claims of prejudice and appeals to his native country to assist him with a foreign crime. Plenty of violent people claim innocence and also claim that a fair investigation and trial was hampered by authorities–it’s nothing new.

Just because a trial was handled improperly in no way means that the person is innocent of the crime. Mr. Volz was reported to be abusive, he also had marks on his body, indicative of a fight or a struggle, around the time the girlfriend died. There should be a new investigation and if possible a new trial, rather than simply letting him walk away scott free.

I agree with Anna. I am not sure of his innocence - or guilt - but either way this case has social and political repercussions for both countries.

Yah, ok Daniel, you moron. You and the rest of the ignoramouses in Nicaragua who believe this garbage should be embarassed. This is exactly why Nicaragua is a third world country. It takes a certain level of common sense and intelligence to actually advance with the modern world. Enjoy your open sewers and filthy, backward society.

Anna.. sweetie.. they were not scratches. The marks on his shoulders.. were broken blood vessels due to carrying Doris’s casket as one of the pall bearers. You are as ignorant and simple minded as the those who convicted him, even though he had almost a dozen people with him at the time of the murder. Even though a very well known businessman from that country had a meeting with him, and lunch. Even though the cell phone records showed he was where he said he was.. and on and on proof of his innocence was presented.

PS Anna.. This had nothing to do with a case not being handlerd properly. LOL.. you are funny. This was about an innocent man being jailed for a crime he did not commit. About a judge who turned away from evidence which clearly showed his innocence. Yes.. a woman was brutally murdered.. and if I were her family I would want the person who murdered her found and put away.. but it wasn’t Eric.

I have read the comments so far. I can say I am against American capitalism and their way of interfering in other states affairs, as they did and still do in my country. But I heard and saw the evidence on a programme recently, just this month, and its obvious that Eric was innocent. Those photos that I saw were obviously not scratches from someone’s nails. I came to that conclusion before they used an expert to determine whether they were. Basically there was no evidence against him, but to acquit him. I have seen cases as biased as his, and I am not surprised that the Nicaraguan judge did what she did. Eric Volz did exploit the country in terms of real estate. He was guilty of that, but not for a crime that he didn’t commit. Unless someone can explain how phone records proved that he was more than 2 hours away at the time of the crime if he was not, not even to mention the other evidence, then I don’t see how he could have been guilty. I am happy to see that justice was served, even if not soon enough. I think that people should not let their views or differences make them seem ignorant. And hope those who made their biased comments dot find themselves in an unfortunate situation as Eric if they do travel. I assume you have never left your country. If yes, be careful of what you wish for against others.

It’s the gringos fault. The poor nicas haven’t done anything wrong. Their problems have been and continue to be caused by the gringos. But this time they got one in a box and he would still be there if a couple of appeals court judges had not the courage to call it right. The anti-gringoism is there Eric, and when you went barging into the situation at the crime scene and the police station you were acting like the pushy, demanding gringo and they don’t like that. You blew smoke in their face. If it’s one thing I learned in all my years south of the border, don’t show them up!

After watching the episode, we cannot base our judgments on a series, but by the evidence that was used in the case. Obviously, no one in trial showed any emotion towards the situation and in any case, anyone can be guilty. However, someone above stated that Eric was only there for money and had no affection towards the local people. But, in all sense, he was dating a local. So, obvious he cared about someone. The evidence that was brought to my attention was clear to me that he was proven innocent. The judge had absolutely no statement, but, “those ARE scratch marks.” That’s obviously not enough evidence to prove that he was guilty. The blood sample that was found on the body was the same as the other defendant. That should have been went into concideration. Thanks!

I am very thankfull for the information on this case, both from the television and on this chat line. I am a Canadian who grew up in latin america and am deciding which country to make my next investment in. I took a 6 month trip by car in 2007 through the CA. It seems the revolution is still going on in Nicaragua so it would not be a good place to try to help by investing.
About the trial of Eric.
Nicaragua is like Guatamala - their country is very “new” in it’s current form and you will find less experienced government officials who will make the kinds of mistakes that the first judge made. I will say that full credit should go to the Police - they were there and protected their prisoner from a lynching - good work. Yes I would like to hear what becomes of the first judge.
The last question I have. What kind of legal system do they have. Everyone is saying that there was not enough evidence to prove him guilty. If their system is like most of the other countries in CA then the accused is Guilty until Proven innocent, something to keep in mind when you travel in Latin countries. I welcome comments.
Sincerely,
Robert Walker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSo3sb73CZY

To all that have nothing to say good about Nicaragua and the people. you should all be ashame. yes nicaragua is not advance as the United States because financial reasons and political. you try to live without some of the things you have here. worry about food, water, clothing, and work. Nicaraguans are not dumb! This just shows me the level of all your educations, prejudice, and racism level. yes the legal system didn’t conduct a proper investigation, but again, consider the financial issue with Nicaragua. all of you with negative response should take diversity class. is it possible that he might be guilty. Remember Andrew Luster, who fled the states for crimes. come people stop the hatred. I am proud how they handle the whole issue. How much did USA government pay the Nicaragua government for his freedom? hmm! I read 1 million dollars.