Self-Help Guru Arrested in Sweat Lodge Deaths

By Bryan Alexander Posted Feb 3rd 2010 08:45PM

Self-help guru James Arthur Ray was arrested late Wednesday on manslaughter charges for the death of three people during a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona.

The charges stem from the deaths of Kirby Brown, James Shore, and Liz Neuman, who were participants in Ray-led sweat lodge ceremony that led to tragic consequences -- and national headlines -- at the a retreat center on October 8, 2009.

"With the arrest of James Ray, Sheriff Waugh hopes the families of the three victims will now have some measure of closure to this tragedy," said a statement from the Yavapi County Sheriff's Office.

The October 8 ceremony was intended to be the highlight of Ray's five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event which cost $9,000 to attend. During the two-hour ceremony at Angel Valley Retreat Center, many participants began feeling ill and were vomiting inside the 415-square-foot structure converted to a sweat lodge, according to the Associated Press. Despite that, Ray urged participants to push past their physical weaknesses and chided those who wanted to leave, authorities and participants have told the AP.

Eighteen other participants were hospitalized.

After the Wednesday afternoon arrest Ray was transported to the Sheriff's Prescott, Arizona office to begin booking procedures. He will eventually be transferred to the Camp Verde Detention Center for final processing. Ray, whose philosphies have been featured on Oprah, had a bond set at 5 million dollars, according to the sheriff's release.

Ray's attorneys Luis Li said Wednesday that his client surrendered to authorities but that the charges were unjust and they were confident he would be exonerated in court, according to the AP.

"This was a terrible accident, but it was an accident, not a criminal act," Li is quoted by the AP. "James Ray cooperated at every step of the way, providing information and witnesses to the authorities showing that no one could have foreseen this accident."

Comments

(12)

Thursday 04 February

By sad

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it's all so tragic

By munky

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"No one could have forseen this accident?" Urging someone to sit in a sweat lodge while they are vomiting and passing out and no one could foresee what was going to happen? A-duh !

By Tanya Barta

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Sweating is good in a sweat lodge for purifying the body, but vomiting in my view is not purification it sound like anorexia. I think this guy should spend the rest of his life in jail. Then charge 9000 dollars for the course is rediculus considering it spirituality.

By spikednc

Now he can pretend like he's a prisoner. Actually, that will be the thing he won't have to pretend.

By Diana

This is some great news, this pig sould have been in jail already. He will try to justify his silly ways in court, it wont stand up though. This pig is in for some prison time now. He sure needs it.

By WBLUM524

UNLESS THIS IDIOT USED FORCE TO STOP THESE PEOPLE FROM LEAVING THE SWEAT LODGE THEN THERE IS NO CRIME. THOSE THAT DIED WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO STAY AND DIE ARE NOTHING BUT SHEEP. THE NEW BREED COPS LOVE THIS STUFF BECAUSE ITS SIMPLE AND LOOKS GOOD IN THE MEDIA. A GOOD LAW SUIT TO CRIPPLE THIS SWEAT LODGE NUT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

By Linda

AND THIS GUY GETS CHARGED AND ARRESTED WAY WAY FASTER THAN THAT DR. MURRAY WHO KILLED MICHAEL JACKSON DID!! JUSTICS IS BS!

By Vanna

What this man did WAS criminal! He used an intimidation tactic to get people to stay and once they were sick they probably were too weak to leave. He should have dialed 9-1-1 as soon as the first person vomited and opened up the doors and windows for air circulation.

Sunday 07 February

By indigneous in az

Greedy white people will stop at nothing in their continued exploitation of Native Americans. Why is everyone so shocked? Native American beliefs have been infringed up since the arrival of Europeans. Only a non-native would charge money to participate in a sacred ceremony. I hope this is a lesson to all the “wannabe” new age follows. If you don't have respect for the sacred elements fire, water, air, they can kill you. Don’t mess with things you have no understanding of or respect for.

Friday 05 February

By barbie

According to witnesses when those who did try to leave he pressured them to stay. Where he was located in that tent of death he had ventiliation, and wasn't suffering himself. Just by that information alone, he knew that he was risking lives.