October 18, 2009 10:30 AM

Third Death from Sweat Lodge Ceremony Led by James Arthur Ray

By
Neil Katz
Topics
Daily Blotter
(AP/Tom Tingle, Arizona Republic)
Photo: Investigators look over a "sweat lodge" on the grounds of Angel Valley Retreat Center, near Sedona, Ariz.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. A third person has died a week after she attended a sweat lodge ceremony at the Angel Valley Retreat Center that has already left two dead and nearly two dozen hospitalized.

The deaths are being investigated as homicides and James Arthur Ray, the self-help guru that led the retreat is in the crosshairs.

Liz Neuman of Minnesota died Saturday at a Flagstaff hospital, Yavapai County sheriff's spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn said.

The 49-year-old suffered multiple organ damage during the Oct. 8 ceremony at a resort near Sedona, a resort town 115 miles (185 kilometers) north of Phoenix that draws many in the New Age spiritual movement.

Authorities were treating all three deaths as homicides, but no charges have been filed.

Neuman was among more than 50 people crowded inside the sweat lodge run by self-help guru James Arthur Ray. An emergency call two hours after they entered the lodge reported two people not breathing.

Twenty-one people were taken to area hospitals with illnesses ranging from dehydration to kidney failure. Kirby Brown, 38, and James Shore, 40, died upon arrival at a hospital.

No one else remains hospitalized.

Authorities haven't determined what caused the deaths. Autopsy results on Brown and Shore are pending further testing.

The Rev. Meredith Ann Murray, who has completed all of Ray's retreats, said Neuman was among Ray's earliest followers and had attended dozens of his events.

According to Ray's Web site, Neuman was the leader of the Minneapolis-area "Journey Expansion Team." The teams, developed by Ray's friends and followers around the country, meet to exchange ideas on his principles. The next Minneapolis-area meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23.

(JamesRay.com)
Photo: James Arthur Ray.

Ray had rented the Angel Valley Retreat Center for his five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event that culminated in the sweat lodge ceremony. Participants paid between $9,000 and $10,000 to attend the retreat.

Ray declined to be interviewed by the sheriff's office on the night of the incident and Arizona authorities said he had not spoken to them as of Thursday. In his first public appearance Tuesday in Los Angeles, Ray told a crowd of about 200 that he has hired his own investigative team to determine what went wrong.

His spokesman, Howard Bragman, has said that Ray's team and Ray's attorney are co-operating with the sheriff's investigators.

More than 100 people attended the funeral for Brown on Saturday at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Otisville, New York, according to The Times Herald-Record newspaper. The avid hiker and surfer who had a passion for art was remembered as a spiritual seeker.

Services for Shore were held late Saturday afternoon at the Hubbard Lodge in Milwaukee.

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
October 18, 2009 - Third Death from Sweat Lodge Ceremony Led by James Arthur Ray
October 16, 2009 - Self-Help Guru James Arthur Ray in Crosshairs of Angel Valley Sweat Lodge Homicide Investigation
October 15, 2009 - Desperate 911 Call: First Glimpse Into Angel Valley Sweat Lodge Deaths
October 14, 2009 - Self-Help Guru James Arthur Ray "Frustrated and Confused" Over Angel Valley Sweat Lodge Deaths
October 13, 2009 - Angel Valley Sweat Lodge Deaths: Owner Didn't Have Permits
October 12, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Death Investigation Turns to Self-Help Guru James Arthur Ray
October 9, 2009 - Angel Valley Resort: Two Dead, Many Hospitalized in Sedona Sweat Lodge Illness


Add a Comment See all 19 Comments
by gifthorsie October 26, 2009 9:32 PM EDT
This is such a sad and disturbing story. I feel so badly for the poor people and their families. James Arthur Ray and his 'movement' hints somewhat of brainwashing cults like est that keep people uncomfortable for long periods (stop folks from going to the bathroom, etc) so they can gain control over them. They break them down over a short period, and then build them back up with a sense of euphoria. This is extremely distructive. I trust the government is looking into Mr. James Arthur Ray's personal finances. Someone who would let his own followers die like this is might do other illegal activities like, say, tax evasion? Where there's a Sweat Lodges, there's undoubtedly Fire.
Reply to this comment
by manzplan October 21, 2009 2:52 PM EDT
to yalatanza and the other who choose to use these people's death to promote their agenda of hammering a dying repressive religion back down the throat of the world. Stop it right now. These deaths are a sad thing and have nothing to do with the belief system that Mr Ray promotes or Oprah for that matter, or the many many Physicists who also tell us this is the closet to the truth we have come. You say people should come back to the "One True God" assuming you are speaking of the Christian one, since people who are so narrow minded and bigoted usually are when they make such a statement. How many people have died or become ill at camp meetings and tent revivals from heat exhuastion? Answer many and I have seen quite few in my day when I was forced to go to them. No one forced these folks into the sweat lodge they went willingly. How many people have gotten sick or died from tainted pot luck dinner foods at churches? Answer many not to mention those who died from obesity because of that lifestyle. How many people have died at church camps? on church trips? etc etc etc etc. How many people have been murdered in the name of "The one True God"
The list goes on and on for people dying at or on their way to Christian events is very long. The list for deaths "related" to "The Secret" is the 3 people on this page. Guess what? These deaths are not related to "The Secret" or any belief system anymore than those kids who died on a church camp bus a couple years ago is related to Christianity. It just happened and it is sad. Just like a friend of mine's dad who died at a church baseball game. Is that God's fault or the fault of that churches belief system? Grow up.
My only problem with Ray's beliefs is that he tries to still fit in the nicey nice crap of Do gooding in an attempt to get people to act nice to others. If you truly understand "The Secret" it has nothing to do with that. It is just your thoughts creating reality. That is all and that in being proven daily in science and in the market place.
Reply to this comment
by yalatanza October 20, 2009 10:20 AM EDT
Sorry Oprah Winfrey wasn't there because she has turned on a lot of American to this falsehood, the Secret. What would you gain from this gimmick anyway? There are many of them out there making money off insecure people who are looking for that something that has eluding them.

They have rejected the true god who has power over all the universe. These Gurus, including Eckhart Toole, and his book of lies "A New Earth" are just fooling people to make money off them. Where in the world can you wish riches and all of a sudden there are millions in your bank account. These are some of foolishness that Oprah was teaching on her web cast all over the world.

To those who are being misled, don't feel too bad because you have compnay in Oprah Winfrey and Gale, Jim Carey and his girlfriend Jenny McCarthy, Denzil Wishington and a lot of those hollywood misfits.
Reply to this comment
by skysinger1 October 20, 2009 5:47 AM EDT
An "accident"? That is ignorant. I have attended Inipi (sweatlodge) in northern Colorado for years. Only a person who is honored and earns the rank of Pipe Carrier can lead these ceremonies, legitimately, in Native traditions (at least Lakota). They know to take care of their people during this. Seems like this guy thinks his fabulous spray tan and bleached teeth qualified him. Get real. I used to LIKE this guy actually, but I am off all his lists now.
Reply to this comment
by rtlhaz October 20, 2009 11:23 AM EDT
has nothing to do with liking this guy or not...he did not want these people to die...get real..........................
by rtlhaz October 19, 2009 4:43 PM EDT
since ray might be charged with homicide are the race organizers in detroit going to be charge with murder of the three runners that died?...apples for apples???. it was an accident nothing more.
Reply to this comment
by rtlhaz October 19, 2009 4:39 PM EDT
since ray might be charged with homicide are the race organizers in detroit going to be charge with murder of the three runners that died?...apples for apples???. it was an accident nothing more.
Reply to this comment
by rwsmith29456 October 18, 2009 10:46 PM EDT
Three people killed and other people burned? This wasn't a sweat lodge or sauna, it was a furnace.
Reply to this comment
by fedup12 October 18, 2009 7:44 PM EDT
by credibility2 October 18, 2009 4:12 PM EDT
Too many gullible and weak people search for spirituality based on an ad or marketing gimmick. Ray took advantage of these delusional low-esteemed individuals.
----------------------------------

Good thing the regular low esteemed, gullible people dont have 10G to spend on this updistay itshay...
Reply to this comment
by SpiritualShow October 18, 2009 6:23 PM EDT
This is why it's so important for people to realize that they need to follow their own inner guidance rather than that of some guru.
These spiritual leaders & teachers have awesome information to share, but take what resonates with you & leave the rest.
And do what feels right for you, whether or not it complies with the teachings of whatever practice you follow.
Clearly, proper safety measures were not taken & people lost their lives. I don't think it's murder but it's certainly negligent.
While there is probably some fault with the organizers of the event, and perhaps criminal negligence, people do need to take responsibility for themselves. I'm not saying the people who suffered injuries or death are at fault, this is a very sad and unfortunate situation. But when we put our faith in some other person, and blindly follow whatever they say rather than following what we know in our hearts to be our own best path, things like this can happen very easily.
Reply to this comment
by credibility2 October 18, 2009 4:12 PM EDT
Too many gullible and weak people search for spirituality based on an ad or marketing gimmick. Ray took advantage of these delusional low-esteemed individuals.
Reply to this comment
See all 19 Comments
.
Latest CBS News Headlines Popular CBS News Stories
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News

Follow Crimesider

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
48 Hours New iPad app A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...