2/3/2010 5:36:00 PM Sweat Lodge organizer James Arthur Ray arrested
Raquel Hendrickson/ Special to the Courier James Arthur Ray is led to the Camp Verde jail for processing Wednesday night. He is being held on $5 million bail.
Matt York/The Associated Press Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray, right, sits in a vehicle as he arrives at the Yavapai County jail in Camp Verde on Wednesday. Ray was arrested on three counts of manslaughter for the deaths of three people at a sweat lodge ceremony he led this past October.
Yavapai County sheriff's deputies arrested author and motivational speaker James Arthur Ray Wednesday on charges of three counts of manslaughter in the deaths of three people during a sweat lodge ceremony at the Angel Valley Retreat Center near Sedona on Oct. 8.
The Yavapai County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment early Wednesday afternoon for Ray on three counts of manslaughter in the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee, Wis.; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn.
Yavapai County Superior Court issued a warrant for Ray's arrest as a result of the indictment.
Sheriff's office detectives served the warrant at Ray's attorney's office in Prescott and arrested Ray around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Dwight D'Evelyn, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
"This was a terrible accident, but it was an accident, not a criminal act," Ray's attorney Luis Li told The Associated Press. "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."
Detectives began booking procedures at the sheriff's Prescott office, and Ray was transferred to the Camp Verde jail for final processing. Bond for Ray was set at $5 million.
The Yavapai County Attorney's Office asked for Ray's bond to be set at $5 million because of the nature of the charges, said Chief Deputy Yavapai County Attorney Dennis McGrane.
"Procedurally, Ray will have an initial appearance Thursday morning in the Verde Valley Justice Court via video equipment at the Camp Verde jail," McGrane said.
If convicted on manslaughter charges, Ray could face a minimum sentence of probation up to a maximum sentence of 12 1⁄2 years on each charge of manslaughter - about 37.5 years total, McGrane said.
Participants in the five-day Spiritual Warrior Retreat said Ray encouraged them to stay in the sweat lodge even while many became ill. More than 20 people, who paid as much at $9,000 to attend the seminar, were taken by ambulance, air and private vehicles for care at the Verde Valley Medical Center, Flagstaff Medical Center and the Sedona Medical Center.
Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh thanked the victim's families for their patience while the sheriff's office completed a thorough and comprehensive investigation, D'Evelyn said. The County Attorney's Office also provided aid to YCSO detectives as they conducted hundreds of interviews and gathered evidence to support Wednesday's indictment.
In January, Ray told New York Magazine in his first interview after the fatal incident that he feels horrible about what happened but declined to comment on whether he was responsible for the deaths. Ray had told participants before the sweat lodge that they might feel they were going to die, but they wouldn't die. He also reportedly told one participant "It's a good day to die."
Ray said his statements were taken "completely out of context" and that he meant people needed to let go of what held them back before they could move forward.
"There's no one who would say that I was talking literally," he told the magazine.
The family of one of the victims, Lizbeth Neuman, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Flagstaff on Oct. 30.
Sidney Spencer, 59, who runs a cattle ranch outside Patagonia, also filed a lawsuit after she was hospitalized for days with kidney and liver failure and respiratory arrest after the sweat lodge ceremony.
The lawsuits accuse Ray, along with the owners of the Angel Valley Retreat and other defendants, of negligence, fraud and other actions.
The incident first came to authorities' attention with a 911 call at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, that reported two people at the sweat lodge had no pulse. When deputies responded at 5:42 p.m., they found people in medical distress, complaining of illness, and two unresponsive and in critical condition.
Investigators interviewed 65 of the 71 people onsite from the time they arrived until 3 a.m. the next day, Waugh said. Ray refused to talk to investigators onsite and returned to California.
Ray's staff built the sweat lodge with a frame of juniper and oak and covered it with many layers of blankets, comforters and tarps. The lodge was 415 square feet, just 53 inches high in the center and 30 inches high on the edges.
"So literally no one could stand up in the lodge," Waugh said.
"We're estimating 50 to 65 people in an area 415 square feet - that is very tight quarters," said Lt. David Rhodes of the sheriff's office criminal investigation bureau. "The only ventilation was the door, the one entrance, when it was open."
Posted: Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Sheri White Eagle
I was so HAPPY to hear he had been arrested and now must answer for his greed and non-concern for his 'followers' A sweat should NEVER be charged and when I heard about how much money he made..1/2 million dollars on this killer swat I was soooo angry!!!! I am GLAD he is where he is and he needs to answer and pay for his greed and avarice of an unsuspecting public!
Posted: Friday, February 05, 2010
Article comment by:
nokomis
For "Proud But Not Free" - I do not discount personal responsibility in the matter, except that the people were conned, AND heat exhaustion can sneak up on a person, causing confusion in one's thinking and reasoning processes. Ray sold a bill of goods that people WANTED to believe in, and did. But the people involved were victims here. The people were vulnerable, and thereby put their trust in a man who did not deserve it. He should have been diligent over the well-being of those vulnerable people. I still believe Ray is ultimately responsible for the deaths and injuries.
And, on a side note, I am afraid it is not just the politicians in Yavapai County that are corrupt. The whole federal/state/county/etc. government is full of corruption.
Posted: Friday, February 05, 2010
Article comment by:
Tricia Cable
Leave Jesus out of this, my son is half Native American, Navajo and Cherokee, and it makes me sick that someone would debase the Great Spirit and Nature in general just to make a buck and it is truly sad, yes, that some of these people were so misled by a False Prophet who only sought profit that it cost them there lives and health. May he pay, and not by the Almighty dollar for what he has done.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Jesus Loves
Trash these gurus - give Jesus a chance! Big Bob 10/4? Kick it back......
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Not really
You people are too high up in elevation to understand what happens when people are dehydrated, they can't think clearly. Hope you (people) Aren't on the jury.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Happy (and safe) in PV
I don't know what his credentials are, but when you are at a high end resort taking part of a program offered there most Americans believe they are safe. When you get on a ride at a carnival you also believe you are safe. When you fly on a commercial airline you also believe you are safe. When the carnival falls apart, the plane crashes, or a million other scenerios go wrong , people look at why it happened and hold accountable the people in charge. People that are afraid try to face their fears sometimes with the help of a therapest and trust that person. If you are driving your car today and at 15 miles per hour your brakes go out and you crash, is it your falt for driving?? No the falt, if any, is on the person that worked on the brakes last week and you trusted they knew what they were doing. This man is responsible for the people that he took money from and promised something in return for that money. When he took their money he put himself in "buisness". A smart buisnessman would have insurance and the insurance company would charge a fee based on the abilities of their client. More dangerous would mean higher insurance, safer products would mean lower insurance rates. I think we will all soon find out if he paid taxes, had insurance, was liscensed,or was a "fly by night" working for the resort. I also would think the resort owners are shaking in their boots about now as well. Was there a medical questionare filled out?? Did he help folks or ignor them?? I have not yet heard him express any regrets. I'll say a prayer for the victims families.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Give' Em Hell Harry
He deserves no bail and should have to think about the consequences for those deaths. He should probably have been arrested just for ripping off the gullible. The Rev. Jim Jones should have been locked up before he murdered his followers too.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
freedom writer
AScotty -- Sheila Polk is the one who asks for and always receives indictments. Sheila Polk is the one who is ultimately responsible for every prosecution in the county. And unless it can be proven that he somehow forced those people into that sweat lodge or forced them to stay there, I don't think charges should have been filed against Ray; and no, I'm not one of his followers, either. I just happen to believe in freedom of choice AND personal responsibility.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
proud but not free
Nokomis, if being greedy and evasive were crimes, every one of Yavapai County's elected leaders would be joining the great river of humanity heading off to prison. Nobody forced those people into that sweat lodge, and nobody forced them to stay in there. But God forbid that adults be allowed any personal responsibility -- oh, no; THAT would be too much like allowing them "freedom of choice," which we all know would be evil indeed.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
nokomis
James Ray has not shown himself to be either trustworthy, or truthful. He HAS, however shown himself to be evasive and greedy. I don't think 5 mil. is enough bail. With all his money, he can afford the 5 mil. way too easily, and skip the state again. They should also ask for his passport!! Ultimately, he IS responsible for the deaths and damages to the people who entrusted their lives to him. It is amazing that it has not happened before now.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Jeri Smith-Fornara
Since 1978-9 Yavapai County has been plagued with all kinds of Shamans and charlatans who have soaked gullible people financially with so-called "magical" vortexes, vibrations coming from the center of the earth, etc. This has become a big and profitable business. Finally a light has been shed on its tawdry nature. This incident was deadly. It could have happened previously. Playing with people's minds, to extract their money from them, is an old game.
In this case those responsible have been brought to account. Other arrests appear in order. I agree with Diane that no bail should have been allowed. How can anyone believe that the bail was punitive, given what happened at the sweat lodge? The Angel Valley Retreat Center, and others in the eastern part of Yavapai County, should have been shut down years ago.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Scotty
Voter her out of office: "Good Lord, here we go again! Sheila Polk trying to make a name for herself -- again!" ---- So you're suggesting charges should not have been filed against Mr. Ray? One of his sycophantic followers I guess. I don't know what article you read, but I can't seem to find Sheila Polk quoted or even mentioned in the story. Please enlighten us as to what paragraph her name appears in. Kinda hard to "make a name for yourself" when your name isn't even printed. Mr Ray on the other hand...
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Umm, Could not have the people got up and walked out the door?
I dont feel all the great, I am out of here.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
He was in Prescott, not fleeing,
even though he doesn't live here. Unless there's more, that doesn't strike me as needing $5 million. I gotta feeling that this either settles quickly or Yavapai County's in for a trial we haven't seen since Earth First. Why no charges against the resort that built the sweat lodge?
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
I think so
When I learned that James Arthur Ray was leaving the lodge himself so cool off outside while his retreat subjects where told they had to stay inside, I was angry. I think charges are in order.
