Sweat Lodge Guru James Arthur Ray Ignored Broken Bones, More, Leading Up To 3 Deaths, Say Court Docs

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

(JamesRay.com)

(Family Photo)

(CBS)

(AP Photo/Family of Kirby Brown)

(JamesRay.com)

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (CBS/AP) Self-help guru James Arthur Ray has a history of conducting sweat lodge ceremonies that lead to broken bones, lost consciousness, and other medical problems, according to documents released in the investigation of three deaths following a sweat lodge event Ray ran in October.

Photo: James Arthur Ray.

PICTURES: Sweat Lodge Deaths

Ray largely ignored the medical issues, the documents allege, up to and including on Oct. 8, when his five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event at a retreat near Sedona, Ariz. ended in the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn.

Photo: Liz Neuman, 49, died 10 days after sweat lodge ceremony.

PICTURES: Sweat Lodge Deaths

The investigation, including hundreds of interviews, is expected to be turned over to prosecutors next month. No charges have been filed.

The Yavapai County sheriff's office has centered a homicide investigation on Ray, who has made millions of dollars by convincing people his words will lead them to spiritual and financial wealth.

Photo: Emergency crews swarmed the Sedona, Ariz., sweat lodge after dozens fell ill on Oct. 8.

PICTURES: Sweat Lodge Deaths

In documents released Monday, a man Ray hired to build the sweat lodge told investigators that he was hesitant to assist with the ceremony for a third year because participants previously had emerged in medical distress, and emergency help wasn't summoned.

Theodore Mercer said the latest ceremony was hotter than in years past, but Ray repeatedly told participants, "You are not going to die. You might think you are, but you're not going to die."

Photo: Kirby Brown, 38, did not survive Ray's October sweat lodge.

PICTURES: Sweat Lodge Deaths

Mercer's wife, Debra, told investigators that one man emerged from the sweat lodge halfway through the October ceremony believing he was having a heart attack and would die. She said that instead of summoning medical aid, Ray said "It's a good day to die," according to a search warrant affidavit.

Photo: James Arthur Ray.

PICTURES: Sweat Lodge Deaths

When Ray was advised that two participants were unconscious near the end of the two-hour ceremony, Debra Mercer said Ray did not appear overly concerned and said they would be OK until the end.

Ray has hired his own investigative team to determine what went wrong. Brad Brian, an attorney for Ray, said in a statement Monday that Ray's representatives have been working with Arizona authorities to determine the facts, and he urged people not to jump to conclusions.

Brian said he believes the investigation will show "that the Sedona tragedy was a terrible accident that no one, including James Ray, could have seen coming."

Authorities and participants have said no one was forced to remain in the sweat lodge, but they were highly encouraged to stay inside the 415-square-foot makeshift sauna covered with tarps and blankets and heated with hot rocks.

Authorities have interviewed most of the more than 50 people who attended the event and detailed about a dozen of the interviews in documents released Monday after a judge ruled last week that they be made public.

Some of the people told investigators that Ray responded to cries for help from a man who was burned and warned other participants not to leave the sweat lodge during eight 15-minute rounds so they wouldn't also be scorched by the hot rocks in the center.

Others who were interviewed by investigators described suffering broken bones at other Ray-led events after being instructed to break bricks with their hands. Others said they vomited and slipped into altered states of consciousness.

Mickey Reynolds, who attended Ray's 2005 "Spiritual Warrior" event said it was implied the sweat lodge was safe since Ray had done the ceremonies before. Reynolds told investigators there was no discussion of safety procedures or a plan if something went wrong.

The owner of the Sedona retreat, Amayra Hamilton, said she told Ray in 2005 that he would have to change his ceremonies after a man became severely ill, and she saw improvements the following year.

Richard Wright said he took part in the latest sweat lodge as a test of courage, enduring seven of eight 15-minute rounds. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., resident told The Associated Press participants never were asked to provide emergency contacts or answer questions about their health, and they never were given a clear picture of the effects of a sweat lodge.

Instead, they took Ray's word that vomiting and passing out were normal, he said.

"We all chose what we did," Wright said. "But again, if you make a choice with only having half the story, have you really made a choice?"

PICTURES: Sweat Lodge Deaths

MORE ON CRIMESIDER
November 2, 2009 - Can Guru James Arthur Ray Use Positive Thinking to Make Wrongful Death Lawsuit Go Away?
October 29, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Deaths: Victim's Daughter Wants James Arthur Ray "Behind Bars"
October 28, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Victim's Family: Guru James Arthur Ray Lied to Us
October 26, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Guru James Arthur Ray: From Poor Childhood to Self-Help Millionaire
October 26, 2009 - Sweat-Lodge Deaths Won't Stop James Arthur Ray, No Mention of $9,000 Per Person Pricetag
October 23, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Hero? Victim May Have Saved Woman Before Dying, Says Participant Beverley Bunn
October 21, 2009 - Sweat Lodge Survivor Beverley Bunn Says James Arthur Ray Played God Before Deadly Ending
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 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 12, 2009 - Family Says New Yorker Kirby Brown was in Great Shape before Mysterious Sweat Lodge Death
October 9, 2009 - Angel Valley Resort: Two Dead, Many Hospitalized in Sedona Sweat Lodge Illness

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by 03Doctor March 1, 2011 11:06 PM EST: The prosecutor was scared and unprepared. As they should be. The defense is just getting started and today they revealed information that James had to keep silent until today. Let's lay this out. A: Angel Valley was contracted to build the sweat lodge using their materials and labor. B: They used tarps that were stored in a shed with rat poison. C: Angel Valley ran out of wood to heat the rocks for steam and used their "pressure treated" wood sitting in a construction wood pile nearby. D: Pressure treated wood is toxic! You cannot burn this wood. Especially for rocks to be doused with water for steam which everyone will breathe. It contains CCA. (Copper, Chromate, and Arsenic). E: The prosecution was made aware by EMT that night and by the fire tender that they believed "it was the wood that caused this." The prosecution didn't even investigate this. F: The ER doc said the first victim arrived with "toxic symptoms" and one symptom that ruled out heat stroke was "Pin-hole pupil" which is caused by poisoning. G: Angel Valley Ranch burned the entire contents of the sweat lodge days later (why??? Hiding something??) H: The victims did not show dehydration or high body-temperatures. I: Again, JRI hired Angel Valley to use their retreat and build a sweat lodge. JRI and staff have ZERO to do with the materials used and how the rocks are treated. Angel Valley is supposedly trained in constructing these and providing for heated rocks. In my opinion, they were silently poisoned. The state has looked in one direction only because their mental bandwidth is limited. It's criminal to turn a blind eye to evidence that actually leads to answers. The defense will shed light on all these points while prosecution reaches for a rabbit that will never emerge from their hat.; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 29, 2010 4:55 PM EDT: From Mr Ray's new video list the reasons he is a charlatan, a fraud & a scam artist:

http://jamesray.com/; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 27, 2010 5:45 AM EDT: If YOU felt you were dying would YOU go back into a sweat lodge? Why not?

What do you think of people who go back into sweat lodges when their bodies are telling them they are dying from the heat? Do you consider such people to be wise?; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 25, 2010 12:59 PM EDT: Angel Valley knew what might be the consequences if anyone died using the sweat lodge THEY CONSTRUCTED. If they felt such a sweat lodge was too big THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE CONSTRUCTED IT!

So, to protect themselves they MUST have had people there to supervise its safe usage. Rumors have it that key people from Angel Valley and among the JRI employees had a little party and were intoxicated. This is the main reason they were negligent in their duties. Three people died as a result, James Arthur Ray went to jail for THEIR NEGLIGENT CRIME. Mr Ray lost his company and I wouldn?t be surprised if Angel Valley soon files for bankruptcy.

Those who were intoxicated and negligent in their important duties to help the people in the sweat lodge should be on trial, not James Arthur Ray!; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 25, 2010 12:58 PM EDT: Angel Valley knew what might be the consequences if anyone died using the sweat lodge THEY CONSTRUCTED. If they felt such a sweat lodge was too big THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE CONSTRUCTED IT!

So, to protect themselves they MUST have had people there to supervise its safe usage. Rumors have it that key people from Angel Valley and among the JRI employees had a little party and were intoxicated. This is the main reason they were negligent in their duties. Three people died as a result, James Arthur Ray went to jail for THEIR NEGLIGENT CRIME. Mr Ray lost his company and I wouldn?t be surprised if Angel Valley soon files for bankruptcy.

Those who were intoxicated and negligent in their important duties to help the people in the sweat lodge should be on trial, not James Arthur Ray!; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 23, 2010 7:10 PM EDT: ANGEL VALLEY DESTROYS THE SWEAT LODGE

From the PDF file called The White Paper No 1 Page 4

http://jamesray.com/docs/White_Paper_No._1.PDF

?2 The reasons for this tragic accident may never be known, in part because we understand that Angel Valley subsequently destroyed the sweat lodge structure and coverings and buried the stones used in the ceremony. The loss of this critical environmental information may render determining the exact cause of death impossible, and the loss of this critical evidence from any ?crime scene? would itself undermine and criminal charges against Mr. Ray.?

MY RESPONSE:

WHAT????? The authorities investigating this case did not confiscate exhibit A???

The yokels in charge of this criminal investigation are going to have a very difficult time explaining to the judge why they did not confiscate EXHIBIT A, in this Sedona investigation, and allowed the OBVIOUSLY GULITY PARTY which is ANGEL VALLEY to destroy the evidence.

ANGEL VALLEY constructed that sweat lodge, not James Arthur Ray, and Angel Valley apparently destroyed the evidence OBVIOUSLY because they knew if they did not THEY would be proven the guilty party in this criminal investigation!

Can you imagine what the media would have said if James Arthur Ray was caught destroying exhibit A in the Sedona criminal investigation? We would still be hearing the repercussions all over the media. So, you who are so vocal about guilt in this matter consider that ANGEL VALLEY destroyed the evidence. Why? Because THEY are obviously the guilty party in the Sedona tragedy. If they were completely innocent in this matter they would NOT have destroyed exhibit A in this criminal investigation.

Those in charge of this criminal investigation are going to really get in trouble for not confiscating that evidence. You can bet they will! It?s going to be very (((VERY))) embarrassing for them as they try to explain why they did not confiscate the evidence and allowed the obviously guilty party, in this tragedy (Angel Valley), to destroy that evidence.

It?s going to be brutal! I hope they televise the trial so we can all watch those idiots trying to explain to the judge why they did not confiscate exhibit A as evidence and allowed Angel Valley to destroy it.; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 20, 2010 8:34 PM EDT: INTOXICATED JRI EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR THREE DEATHS IN SEDONA

For about seven years, I believe, James Arthur Ray held these sweat lodge workshops with minor, acceptably understandable, incidents. There was one MAJOR difference at the Sedona sweat lodge workshop James Arthur Ray held in 2009:

There are rumors going around that a number of key JRI employees decided to have a little party and were intoxicated and on drugs while they were supposed to be fully sober and ready to help any and all people in the Sedona sweat lodge who needed help. This is why they were negligent in doing the jobs THEY WERE PAID TO DO!! It was THEIR JOB, not James Arthur Ray?s, to make certain everything was safe with the sweat lodge and running smoothly. Intoxicated JRI employees were careless in the administration of the duties THEY WERE PAID TO DO. As a result three people died and a number of people were hospitalized.

James Arthur Ray was sent to jail because of THEIR CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. Soon it will become public knowledge.

All I can say is that James Arthur Ray went to jail for something he did not do. THESES JRI EMPLOYEES are soon going to jail for their intoxicated criminal negligence that resulted in three deaths!; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 20, 2010 12:46 AM EDT: Tell us, if you were in a dark sweat lodge ceremony and someone passed out right next to you wouldn't you do your best to help them? OF COURSE YOU WOULD! You wouldn't just leave them there. If you have any decency in you at all you would do your best to help and ask others to help you if you needed it.

So, how about these people at the sweat lodge who stated that people were passing out and no one was helping them. What possible excuse could they have for not helping those people? None that I can see. How about you? Can you ?see? better than I?

They already missed their opportunity to say that JRI would not let them help people who passed out in the sweat lodge. It?s too late to fall back on that lame excuse.; Reply to this comment


by JasonDaro March 19, 2010 3:45 PM EDT: A SHARED POST:

Okay, the Spirit of Intent has taught me how to deal with you people who blatantly claim James Arthur Ray is a fake, a charlatan and a fraud.

I have challenged you over and over and over many times to review the James Arthur Ray video and list 5 reasons why you are certain he is a fake and a fraud. No matter where I have done this on the Internet NO ONE has taken the challenge and listed so much as ONE REASON. Obviously, you are making your claims of fraud without anything to back it up.

http://jamesray.com/index.php

Okay then. Since you are certain James Arthur Ray is a fake, s charlatan and a fraud. Do tell everyone here:

AS COMPARED TO WHOM??

As compared to the Pope? Remember that the Pope has a lot more money from his followers than James Arthur Ray.

So, James Arthur Ray is a fake, a charlatan and a fraud as compared to whom:

List the people alive today who you are certain are NOT spiritual fakes, charlatans and frauds.

If you cannot do this you are openly admitting that you don?t know the difference between a fraud and the real thing thus your calling James Arthur Ray a fraud is the product of baseless ignorance.

Let?s all see your list of spiritual leaders alive today who ARE NOT charlatans, fakes and frauds:

1

2

3

4

5; Reply to this comment

by JasonDaro March 19, 2010 3:44 PM EDT

A SHARED POST

Former JRI Employee Megan Fredrickson said (from this article):

"She told authorities that her experience with sweat lodges was limited to the ones led by Ray, and she never took it upon herself to research them or find out why people would pass out."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-6186963-504083.html?tag=mncol;lst;4#addcomm

MY COMMENT:

What?? She was there to help and never bothered to do any personal research to make certain she could help people who couldn?t handle the heat? THAT IS INEXCUSABLE!! If it was YOUR JOB to help people at a sweat lodge ceremony wouldn?t YOU do your own personal research to make certain you were prepared for anything that might happen? OF COURSE YOU WOULD, if you are intelligent. Any intelligent person would.

Native American vision quest fasting sweat lodge experiences have a history of being dangerous. If YOU were employed to help those participating you would have to be a fool not to do extensive research into the matter before you got there to help and YOU KNOW IT!

Reply to this comment


by weatwind March 16, 2011 2:11 PM EDT: atupid white people quit talking about our culture you never have respected or known anything about.This was not a sweat lodge. They are not dangerous, we have done them for thousands of years, but when white people steal what is ours without permission they screw it up as always. Who are the dumb savages? Sweat lodges you don't charge for, same as your religions we don't go around pretending to do. You don't use tarps, use blankets. You don't pressure people to be in there who don't know what they're doing like the other stupid white people that went, or who are uncomfortable. You are humble and responsible for the safety of everyone, you make it only hot enough for the weakest. You don't let women on their moon time in or people with health issues against it, you prepare them, you insist they leave or stop the round if they feel they need to, it is not a game. There is more, but you people never listen anyway. THis is why you have to have permission passed down and why we don't let you in our sacred ceremonies and share them, you don't respect the wisdom we have to do things wight. AIM and many people warned him, but none of them listened, just like Custer, and his spirtual warriors died with him too. Now these wannabe posers are getting the bad medicine that comes from disrespecting the ancestors and mother earth.