Sweat Lodge Victim's Family: Guru James Arthur Ray Lied to Us
On Oct. 8, Ray took more than 50 participants into a small sweat lodge at the Angel Valley Retreat Center about two hours north of Phoenix. Three people were eventually sent home in body bags and more than a dozen were hospitalized. It's still not clear why and authorities are investigating the deaths as homicides.
Kirby Brown, 38, was one of three who did not survive. Five days after the tragedy, Ray called Brown's mother, Virginia Brown, to express his condolences, she told King.
And that, she says, is where the dishonesties began.
"He asked me, 'What can I do?' and I said, 'You can cooperate with the authorities.' And he insisted that he had. He said, 'Oh I have,'" the grieving mother said in the interview.
But Ray hadn't been cooperating, authorities told Virginia Brown, who told King she has been in close contact with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Department. It's been two weeks since the deaths, and Ray has still not given authorities a statement.
"They've said they want a statement from him, but he hasn't really made one yet," Jean Brown, the victim's sister told King.
Ray left the state shortly after the incident and has been continuing to hold speaking events.
PICTURES: Sweat Lodge DeathsMORE ON CRIMESIDEROctober 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