--- title: Gringo Justice in Nicaragua description: On Feb. 16, 2007, Eric Volz was found guilty of murdering his Nicaraguan ex-girlfriend Doris Ivania Jimenez. She had been found hogtied, raped and strangled... canonical: https://time.com/archive/6942122/gringo-justice-in-nicaragua-2/ author: Tim Rogers article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2007-12-18T05:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-22T07:28:52.792Z article:section: World og:title: Gringo Justice in Nicaragua og:description: On Feb. 16, 2007, Eric Volz was found guilty of murdering his Nicaraguan ex-girlfriend Doris Ivania Jimenez. She had been found hogtied, raped and strangled... og:url: https://time.com/archive/6942122/gringo-justice-in-nicaragua-2/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Gringo Justice in Nicaragua twitter:description: On Feb. 16, 2007, Eric Volz was found guilty of murdering his Nicaraguan ex-girlfriend Doris Ivania Jimenez. She had been found hogtied, raped and strangled... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [World](/section/world/) # Gringo Justice in Nicaragua (18 Dec 2007) > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Project Management Institute. 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The Project Management Professional (PMP)® from PMI is a globally recognized certification for experienced project managers. For those newer to the field, PMI's Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® is a common starting point. Other notable certifications include those focused on agile methodologies, such as the PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, and program management certifications like the Program Management Professional (PgMP)®. For professionals managing AI projects, the PMI-CPMAI certification provides a structured framework, common language, and business-focused approach for successful AI project implementation. #### How does PMI support career growth for professionals? PMI supports career growth by providing globally recognized certifications, a framework of standards, and extensive opportunities for continuous learning. Members gain access to a global community for networking, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. The organization also produces research and thought leadership on emerging trends, helping professionals stay current with skills in areas like AI, agile practices, and strategic business management. These resources are designed to help professionals at all levels enhance their skills and advance their careers. #### What is the PMBOK® Guide? The PMBOK® Guide, or A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, is PMI’s foundational guide to generally accepted project management knowledge and practice. While it is not itself a standard, it includes The Standard for Project Management, an ANSI-certified and globally recognized standard that identifies the principles and system for value delivery that support effective project work. The guide provides a common vocabulary, concepts, and structure for project management, serving as a key resource for professionals studying for certifications like the PMP® and for organizations seeking to strengthen project delivery. #### How is AI changing project management? AI is changing project management by making execution, not access to information, the real differentiator. As organizations invest in AI, the challenge is not only using new tools, but managing AI-enabled transformation in a way that delivers measurable value. Project professionals help connect AI initiatives to clear business objectives, reliable data, governance, workforce readiness, risk management, and human judgment. 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Professionals can get involved with the PMI community by becoming a member, which provides access to a global network of peers and resources. Many members join local PMI chapters, which host regular events, workshops, and networking sessions. Online, PMI's projectmanagement.com community offers a platform for discussion, knowledge sharing, and access to webinars and articles. Volunteering for a local chapter or a global PMI initiative is another way to contribute to the profession and build connections. #### What is the difference between PMP and CAPM? The PMP (Project Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management)® are both certifications offered by PMI, but they target professionals at different career stages. The CAPM is an entry-level certification designed for individuals with little or no project experience, validating their understanding of fundamental project management knowledge and terminology. The PMP is for experienced project managers and requires a combination of formal education and years of documented project leadership experience, making it a more advanced and globally recognized certification. #### How does PMI support social impact? PMI supports social impact by helping individuals, nonprofits, NGOs, and communities use project management to turn purpose into measurable outcomes. Through the PMI Educational Foundation, PMI expands access to project management education for youth worldwide, including underserved and underrepresented populations. Through Project Managers Without Borders, PMI connects chapters and volunteers with nonprofits and NGOs that need project management expertise to strengthen the effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability of social initiatives. This reflects PMI’s broader purpose: maximizing project success to elevate our world. ### Sources * Project Management Institute | [pmi.org](/c/pmi-2026-q3/home?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey—Fourteenth Edition" | [pmi.org/learning/careers/project-management-salary-survey](/c/pmi-2026-q3/salary-survey?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Global Project Management Talent Gap" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/global-project-management-talent-gap](/c/pmi-2026-q3/talent-gap?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, "Maximizing Project Success" | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/project-success?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse Report 2025: Boosting Business Acumen” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/boosting-business-acumen](/c/pmi-2026-q3/business-acumen?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Pulse of the Profession® 2026: Driving Success in Complex Projects” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/driving-success-in-complex-projects](/c/pmi-2026-q3/complex-projects?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI, “Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E.” | [pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/path-to-project-success](/c/pmi-2026-q3/more-mindset?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) * PMI Education Foundation, PMIEF 2024 Annual Report, [pmi.org PMIEF 2024 Annual Report (PDF)](/c/pmi-2026-q3/pmief-report?i=4855bdab-b6c3-4066-b583-5d9793f6334f&cr=agentads-creative-pmi-v1) ### FAQ structured data (JSON-LD, optional) by [Tim Rogers](https://time.com/author/tim-rogers/) Dec 18, 2007 5:00 AM UTC by [Tim Rogers](https://time.com/author/tim-rogers/) Dec 18, 2007 5:00 AM UTC On Feb. 16, 2007, Eric Volz was found guilty of [murdering his Nicaraguan ex-girlfriend Doris Ivania Jimenez](https://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1581943,00.html). She had been found hogtied, raped and strangled to death in the back of her clothing boutique in the touristy beach town of San Juan del Sur on Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. However, a second man, Julio Martin Chamorro, a small-town bully with the reputation of being a “tourist leech,” stood trial alongside Volz and was also found guilty of the murder. Both he and Volz were sentenced to 30 years in prison. Then, after nearly 10 months in jail, Volz was vindicated on Dec. 14 by an Appeals Court in Granada, which ruled in a 2-1 split decision to absolve him of all charges, while upholding the sentence against Chamorro. Yet before Volz’s release papers could be signed, his voluminous case file was mysteriously “lost,” prompting his lawyers to cry foul. In the meantime, even though his passport has been ordered returned to him, he has not been allowed out of jail and cannot leave Nicaragua because the judge at his original trial has not signed off on the release order. “There are some dark forces at play here,” defense counsel Fabbrith Gomez told TIME, adding that his client is now being detained illegally — an opinion shared by appellate judge Roberto Rodriguez. The U.S. Embassy has weighed in with a letter asking the authorities to “implement a decision as quickly as possible” and assure for Volz’s well-being and security while under state custody. The decision to free Volz sent a shockwave around the country this week and revived a old debate on whether justice is applied equally to foreigners and Nicaraguans, and to rich and poor. The decision to free Volz and not Chamorro seems to have divided people along class lines, with most expatriates and wealthier Nicaraguans applauding the decision. The vast majority of poor Nicaraguans, however, complain that it is another case of the rich getting away with murder. In the blogs run by the daily newspapers here, some commented that justice has finally been served and wished Volz a Merry Christmas with his family back home. Most comments, however, expressed outrage at what many consider to be corrupt judicial system. “Justice here is like a snake, it only bites those who are barefoot,” one reader posted, referring to popular notion here than only the poor do jail time. Similar ire was expressed by the Sandinista government’s Chief Prosecutor Julio Centeno, who called the decision a “barbarity,” and Human Rights Ombudsman and former guerrilla leader Omar Cabezas, who said Volz should not be allowed to leave the country. The victim’s mother, Mercedes Alvarado, also reacted with indignation and accused the appellate judges of being bought off by Volz’s family. “There’s too much corruption,” she told local reporters, adding that the judges must have needed extra money to buy their Christmas dinner. Despite the anger expressed on blogs and in statements to the press, the rest of the country remained calm this week as most prepared for Christmas vacation starting this Friday. Even in San Juan del Sur, where Volz had once lived with Jimenez, American expats reported life as usual and no hostility toward _gringos_, adding that most people there had already tried to put the Volz case behind them. In Granada, Roberto Rodriguez, the appellate judge at the center of the firestorm, denies that he was ever offered any bribe money or that he was pressured by his superiors or any other interested parties. After carefully reviewing the case, Rodriguez said he concluded that Volz’s physical involvement in the murder was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Volz has always insisted that he was two hours away in the capital Managua at the time of the murder, and provided cell phone and IM chat-log records to prove his alibi — evidence that was dismissed by the judge presiding over his murder trial. Rodriguez, however, found that alibi more compelling, despite other inconsistencies in the case. “It’s better to have 100 guilty people on the street than one innocent person in jail,” Rodriguez told TIME. The magistrate, who acknowledges that he will probably lose his job over his decision, hedged his decision by saying it is not his job to determine Volz’s ultimate guilt or innocence, but rather to study the case on a technical and legal basis to determine whether the prosecutor proved without a reasonable doubt that he had “physically participated in the murder.” Rodriguez said that Volz must be released from state custody, where he is currently in the hospital receiving medical attention for asthma and gastrointestinal illness, and that he is free to leave the country as soon as he gets out. “I hope he does,” the judge added. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/6942122/gringo-justice-in-nicaragua-2/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/6942122/gringo-justice-in-nicaragua-2/"},"headline":"Gringo Justice in Nicaragua (18 Dec 2007)","datePublished":"2007-12-18T05:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-22T07:28:52.792Z","description":"On Feb. 16, 2007, Eric Volz was found guilty of murdering his Nicaraguan ex-girlfriend Doris Ivania Jimenez. 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