SAN DIEGO -- A former University of California, San Diego student is in a Nicaragua prison serving 30 years for a murder he and his friends have said he did not commit.

His situation is gathering attention in the U.S. and now his friends are doing all they can to free him.

Eric Volz went to Nicaragua for the same reason he went to San Diego -- to surf.

Volz also found a passion to help the people of Nicaragua. He started a magazine that focused on smart growth.

Longtime friend Kevin Carpenter said it came from Volz’s incredible drive.

“He was the eco-friendly type of development and helping the community type of development,” said Carpenter.

However, things turned for the worse as last November, Volz’s girlfriend, a local girl, was found slain. Ten witnesses placed Volz in a city two hours away.

“A lot of reputable people as well as cell phone records showed he was on the phone at the time of the murder,” said Carpenter.

Volz was devastated by the news of his girlfriend’s murder.

“He went down to pick up family members, help with the funeral and even carried the casket at the funeral,” said Carpenter.

Volz’s constant pressure on authorities to solve the case turned against him. He was arrested along with three other people, two of whom confessed to the murder and one of whom was a member of an influential Nicaraguan family and was given immunity in exchange for testifying against Volz.

Carpenter added, “I think it came to a shock as much to him as anyone else.”

What was even more shocking was the tabloid and public response.

“It was basically, ‘This is the guilty American,’” said Carpenter.

The public wanted Volz’s head.

Volz’s father wrote this journal entry:
“All day long in Rivas the locals gathered in the streets outside the courthouse. We had received a report that a vehicle with blaring external loud speakers had been driving through the streets of San Juan telling the town's people that they had to fight for their rights, and stand up to the gringos. The 'call to arms' invited them all to come to the Rivas court hearing in order to bring justice to the gringo."

The case went to trial and there was no forensic evidence, no blood and hair. There was nothing that linked Volz to the crime scene.

The judge in the case did not allow the cell phone records and the witnesses who put Volz in another city were not allowed to testify.

Volz was convicted of murder and rape.

“That is what he was convicted of, but there was no rape evidence,” said Carpenter.

Volz is serving 30 years in a Nicaraguan prison and his life is still in danger.

Outside of his cell, crowds screamed, “Let the gringo out so we can kill him.”

The hope is an appeal might give Volz a chance for a trial where all the evidence could be heard.