October 13, 2009 9:31 AM

Angel Valley Sweat Lodge Deaths: Owner Didn't Have Permits

By
Edecio Martinez
Topics
Daily Blotter
(AP Photo/Yavapai County Sheriff)
Photo: "Sweatbox" structure at Angel Valley resort in Sedona, Ariz.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (CBS/AP) No permit. Not even an application.

A sweat lodge in central Arizona where two people were overcome and later died lacked the necessary building permit, an official said Monday.

Yavapai County building safety manager Jack Judd said there was no record of an application or permit for a temporary structure at the Angel Valley Retreat Center near Sedona.

At any one time, 55 to 65 people attending the "Spiritual Warrior" program hosted by self-help expert and author James Arthur Ray were crowded into the 415-square-foot space during a two-hour period Thursday night, Yavapai County sheriff's officials said.

Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, New York, and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee died after being overcome in the sauna-like hut, which was built specifically for the five-day retreat. Nineteen other people were hospitalized with symptoms ranging from dehydration to kidney failure. One remained in critical condition Monday, and two others were in fair condition.

Sheriff's spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn said authorities believe Ray's staff either participated in erecting the structure or oversaw the construction. Ray's spokesman, Howard Bragman, declined to comment on the permit but said the resort's staff was under contract to build a sweat lodge to accommodate up to 75 people.

Resort owner Michael Hamilton declined to address the permit issue late Monday. His wife, Amayra Hamilton, said Saturday the sweat lodge, which was built with a wood frame and covered with layers of tarps and blankets, had been taken down.

Judd said no inspection of the structure was conducted before it was dismantled.

Verde Valley Fire Chief Jerry Doerksen, whose department responded to the initial emergency call of two people not breathing, said his department regularly inspects the Hamiltons' property. He said the couple never hesitates to ask questions, raise concerns or address issues brought up by fire officials.

An inspection of the fire area used to heat the cantaloupe-sized rocks that were taken into the sweat lodge determined it "would have been a legal fire," Doerksen said.

The sheriff's office is investigating to determine if criminal negligence played a role in the deaths or illnesses. Tests for contaminants ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a cause.

(AP Photo/Family of Kirby Brown)
Photo: Kirby Brown.

Autopsies on Brown and Shore were conducted, but the results are being withheld pending additional tests.

Sweat lodges — used by American Indian tribes to cleanse the body and prepare for hunts, ceremonies and other events — are a common practice in the area. Most are on private property and hold no more than a dozen people, Doerksen said.

Large-scale sweat lodges appear to create a "new challenge for us," he said.

Talks are planned between his department and county officials to consider issuing health warnings for events such as sweat lodges that would include suggestions on how long to stay in.

"It's the same with hot tubs and saunas," Doerksen said. "Most of the time in a motel, it will say do not stay in there more than 10 to 15 minutes. What we're looking at is the same kind of thing."

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
October 12, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Death Investigation Turns to Self-Help Guru James Arthur Ray
October 12, 2009 - Family Says New Yorker Kirby Brown was in Great Shape before Mysterious Sweat Lodge Death


Add a Comment
by Harden_Tar October 13, 2009 4:47 PM EDT
People wanting to play "A Man Called Horse", and other people willing to take their money and let them do it. The people that do this for real have generations of experience and training and probably would not invite a group of wannabes into their ceremony in any event. These are "Self Help" snake oil salesmen preying on the poor souls that think they will gain some sort of spiritual enlightenment from some dude that is "hosting" their event. Sorry people died. Somebody needs to go to jail.
Reply to this comment
by Ahaseheset October 13, 2009 3:43 PM EDT
eh...I apologize for not proof reading before posting.
It is supposed to read: "...a priest conduct the ceremony."
<<sigh>>
Reply to this comment
by Patrick-C October 13, 2009 2:49 PM EDT
This is why there is a declared war by the Lakota spiritual community against blasphemers of our ceremonies and traditions. The permit is a technicality. The reason those people are dead is because a self-proclaimed self-help guru (I love that word) thought he knew how to run a sweat lodge. And that many people in one lodge is unheard of. He has more than the law to answer to now. We have a sweat lodge every week
Reply to this comment
by Ahaseheset October 13, 2009 3:38 PM EDT
Isn't it a good that that the Eastern Woodland spiritual community didn't let out the ceremonies of the people.
Otherwise,you would see longhouses with ticketbooths at the door all over Amercia.

Those of you who would go to a non-native run sweat lodge: Would you also go to holy communion and confessional without having priest concuct the ceremony?? How much would you be willing to pay some self help guru for each "Hail Mary?"

Sacred traditions are sacred traditions and all should be respected and not exploited by money grabbing charlatons.
by lwilson1952 October 13, 2009 1:18 PM EDT
Once again, in the name of spirituality, greed raises it's ugly head. At $9000. a head, no less, this man sponsored a "spiritual experience" that should have never happened. It seems the emphasis was on quantity & not quality. The Elders were right, true spirituality has no price tag. Only those abusing it charge for it and the public who seeks TRUE spirituality will know the difference. Unfortunately, two people paid the ultimate price. Mr Ray has some SERIOUS soul searching to do, I hope he is capable.
Reply to this comment
by bearpaw5150 October 13, 2009 12:03 PM EDT
Needing a building permit for a sweat lodge is the biggest joke I have ever heard.

The Elders have been saying for a long time. If you Charge for spirituality. You will pay for it. Hard lessons for people that are unqualified to run sweats. Hope everyone interested learns from this. Of course I highly doubt it......
Reply to this comment
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