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Islander
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 23, 2007 - 06:24pm PT
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This may be old news to some, but I just happened across this situation today.
Eric Volz, an American living in Nicaragua, seems to have been wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced this week to thirty years in prison. I visited a website (www.friendspfericvolz.com) put up by his family and friends and discovered he is a climber (check the photo page).
If the facts of his defense claim are true, his conviction is injustice with a capital "I."
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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Feb 23, 2007 - 07:03pm PT
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It took all of ten minutes to call two senators and email 3 representatives on this one...just sayin...
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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Feb 23, 2007 - 08:34pm PT
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yeah - read the notes - went and helped the family for the funeral, then pressed the police to do something about the case...then was arrested...
if the facts (many of which should be verifiable) are true - he was railroaded...
tough to tell from here, but it looks like more than a few people put him 2 hours away at the time of her murder...
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Petch
climber
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Feb 23, 2007 - 08:50pm PT
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I know Eric and he is no way capable of hurting anyone. He has a big heart and always very generous.
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Islander
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 23, 2007 - 09:22pm PT
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Man, the more I dig into Eric's story, the more surreal it becomes. Stranger than fiction, really. I encourage other SP folks to explore this man's plight and lend support.
I see there is a photo on his website of Eric and Chris Mac in Yosemite -- such a long way from what surely must be a hellish Nicaraguan prison cell.
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pud
climber
Sportbikeville
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Feb 23, 2007 - 10:09pm PT
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Why don't they state that the victim was his ex-girlfriend on the support Eric page?
I would be willing to help in any way i could if this individual was wrongly convicted (as it appears from the circumstances) but I would be equally willing to see him rot if he is guilty.
The woman was supposedly raped then killed.
With a little research I find that there are DNA forensic examiners in Managua, Nicaragua.
What evidence was used to convict this young man?
Are there court transcripts?
I hope the truth is revealed soon for everyone concerned.
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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Feb 23, 2007 - 11:05pm PT
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pud - agreed on all fronts. i think rape should be a capitol offense, but i'm not sure this was the case here. i think we need to know more, hence my bugging my senators and reps...
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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Feb 24, 2007 - 03:38am PT
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" What evidence was used to convict this young man?
Are there court transcripts? "
indeed. all i want is the truth. someone asked for help...someone is dead...someone else might be guilty, or might be innocent...
what can we do ? i know this isn't digg, we aren't going to get 2 million hits on the front page here...
but we can make *some* noise, can't we ? you'd think we have enough iron here to take at least one heavy swing...
yo fatty - how many strings you got a hand on ? pull a few ?
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dishwasher-dave
climber
Meyers
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Mar 16, 2007 - 06:03pm PT
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http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20070316/NEWS/103160072
There is an article about Eric in today's Tahoe Daily Trib.
Though Eric has been out of the Sierra for the last several years, he was a pretty ripping climber here for a while. There is a picture of him in the High Sierra Supertopo and a funny anecdote about him getting himself stung by wasps in the South Lake Supertopo.
He could really use the all the support he can get right now.
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jhog
climber
south lake tahoe
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Mar 17, 2007 - 04:39am PT
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I live in Tahoe and know Eric and his sister well, I also know the intimate details of this situation. Eric is in a third-world country not known for political stability. Corruption and crime are an everyday affair. If you're a 'gringo' and decide to go there, expect to be mugged by locals and extorted by the police. Some concider this a small price to pay for amazing surf and tropical paradise. There's a saying in Nicaragua that goes something to the effect of; 'if your in the government and you're not on the take, you're stupid'. My good friend was with Eric and nine other people two hours away when the murder was committed. You may proclaim your doubts about his innocence, but knowing Eric, it's the equivalent of hearing 'oh, guess what, your grandmother has been caught eating babies... and some guy in Timbuktu says it's true!'... It's total bullsh#t. Nicaraguans are resentful that 'rich' white Americans are coming to their country and buying their land. This was a political move by the judge, pure and simple. I was even concidering getting some of that cheap land, not anymore, it's a sketchy place. Eric is also a bad-ass climber! go to friendsofericvolz.com to help him and his family.
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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Mar 17, 2007 - 10:51am PT
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"My good friend was with Eric and nine other people two hours away when the murder was committed."
jhog - good post. I think we need to keep this on the front page for a while.
Tom
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smith curry
climber
nashville,TN
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Mar 17, 2007 - 03:20pm PT
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I've known Eric for ten years, and I'm horrified by this. He's COMPLETELY incapable of strangling a woman. I'm going to try to help.....
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paganmonkeyboy
Trad climber
the blighted lands of hatu
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Mar 19, 2007 - 09:37am PT
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monday morning front page bump...
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Mar 19, 2007 - 01:44pm PT
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The Eric Volz story made the front page of today's Wall Street Journal.
Can someone with 'subscription' access please post the entire story, or at least a link to the entire story. Here's the 'free' preview:
http://online.wsj.com/google_login.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB117426483422241025.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsj
Romance, a Murder And an American In Nicaraguan Jail
By John Lyons
Word Count: 1,341
SAN JUAN DEL SUR, Nicaragua -- Eric Volz saw himself as a bridge between American baby boomers looking for beachside dream homes and local families of fishermen and laborers in this languid Pacific village. A surfer turned real-estate broker, Mr. Volz, 27 years old, published a bilingual magazine called El Puente -- literally, The Bridge.
But now he's tumbled deep into Nicaragua's cultural divide. Mr. Volz is a few weeks into a 30-year sentence for allegedly killing his girlfriend, a ruling he says is ludicrous and he is appealing. Several eyewitnesses said he was in another town at the time ...
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Mar 19, 2007 - 01:56pm PT
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Fattrad, that's the same 'free' summary I posted above. If you are a subscriber, can you cut-paste the article here?
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Wild Bill
climber
Ca
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Mar 19, 2007 - 03:30pm PT
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First, you need to 'subscribe' to WSJ or WSJ online. If you're not, then we can stop right here.
If you are, log on and then access the complete story from today's WSJ. Once you have the story open, highlight it, then copy it.
Then paste here. Voila!
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