Arizona Sweat Lodge Dead Identified

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Ruled Out in "Spiritual Cleansing" Ceremony That Killed 2, Sent 19 to Hospital

(AP)  Two people who died after sitting in an Arizona resort's sauna-like sweat lodge were identified Saturday as a 40-year-old Wisconsin man and a 38-year-old New York woman.

James Shore of Milwaukee and Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y. died Thursday night after being overcome in a sweat lodge during a spiritual cleansing ceremony.

Nineteen others were taken to area hospitals, but most were soon released. One remained in critical condition on Saturday.

Yavapai County sheriff Steve Waugh said Saturday that his detectives are focusing on self-help expert and author James Arthur Ray and his staff as they try to determine if criminal negligence played a role in the deaths. No charges have been filed.

The resort is owned by Michael and Amayra Hamilton, who have declined to comment. Ray's spokesman expressed condolences Friday, but wouldn't talk specifically about the deaths. Ray's company, James Ray International, is based in Carlsbad, Calif.

Authorities haven't determined the cause of the deaths and illnesses, but ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. The incident happened at the Angel Valley Retreat Center just outside scenic Sedona.

Ray rented the facility as part of a five-day "Spiritual Warrior" retreat that promised to "absolutely change your life."

Waugh said the 64 people who were in the crude sweat lodge had fasted for 36 hours, then ate a breakfast buffet on Thursday morning. After various seminars on Thursday, they entered the sweat lodge at about 3 p.m.

A little more than two hours later, Shore and Brown were taken out of the lodge without a pulse and not breathing. By the time rescue crews reached the remote property, other people also were experiencing medical distress.

A nurse hired by Ray was directing rescue efforts including CPR when emergency crews arrived, Waugh said. Shore and Brown were pronounced dead when they arrived at a hospital.

An autopsy was conducted on Friday, but the results are pending additional tests.

The 19 others who were taken to hospitals suffered from various ailments, including respiratory arrest, kidney failure or elevated body temperature.

[sunshinyday]

This is a very sad sad story. I feel sorry for the ones who were naive. I attend these sort of ceremonies and the ones who hold ceremonies where I am from do not expect payment. True elders are not in it for the money, but rather they are humble and really want to help those in need. When I go to a sweatlodge healing ceremony all I am required to bring is tobacco, a gift of what I can give and some fruit. Humility would have never caused this accident. When I am in the sweatlodge I may leave if I need to. I am not required to stay in if I can't take it. Plus, there is cedar water in the lodge, and water outside of the lodge as well. The amount of people in that that killed these poor people should have never been so. There were way too many people!!! I have never seen a sweatlodge made of tarp! The one I attend is made of canvas and other natural materials. So, to those phoney elders, quit pretending you are an elder when you are NOT! and for those genuine elders,keep doing what you are doing! and for those who you want to experience the true meaning of a sweat, don't let those high-priced elders fool you! The Creator be with you today and always!

[sunshinyday]

This is a very sad sad story. I feel sorry for the ones who were naive. I attend these sort of ceremonies and the ones who hold ceremonies where I am from do not expect payment. True elders are not in it for the money, but rather they are humble and really want to help those in need. When I go to a sweatlodge healing ceremony all I am required to bring is tobacco, a gift of what I can give and some fruit. Humility would have never caused this accident. When I am in the sweatlodge I may leave if I need to. I am not required to stay in if I can't take it. Plus, there is cedar water in the lodge, and water outside of the lodge as well. The amount of people in that that killed these poor people should have never been so. There were way too many people!!! I have never seen a sweatlodge made of tarp! The one I attend is made of canvas and other natural materials. So, to those phoney elders, quit pretending you are an elder when you are NOT! and for those genuine elders,keep doing what you are doing! and for those who you want to experience the true meaning of a sweat, don't let those high-priced elders fool you! The Creator be with you today and always!

[sunshinyday]

This is a very sad sad story. I feel sorry for the ones who were naive. I attend these sort of ceremonies and the ones who hold ceremonies where I am from do not expect payment. True elders are not in it for the money, but rather they are humble and really want to help those in need. When I go to a sweatlodge healing ceremony all I am required to bring is tobacco, a gift of what I can give and some fruit. Humility would have never caused this accident. When I am in the sweatlodge I may leave if I need to. I am not required to stay in if I can't take it. Plus, there is cedar water in the lodge, and water outside of the lodge as well. The amount of people in that that killed these poor people should have never been so. There were way too many people!!! I have never seen a sweatlodge made of tarp! The one I attend is made of canvas and other natural materials. So, to those phoney elders, quit pretending you are an elder when you are NOT! and for those genuine elders,keep doing what you are doing! and for those who you want to experience the true meaning of a sweat, don't let those high-priced elders fool you! The Creator be with you today and always!

[sunshinyday]

This is a very sad sad story. I feel sorry for the ones who were naive. I attend these sort of ceremonies and the ones who hold ceremonies where I am from do not expect payment. True elders are not in it for the money, but rather they are humble and really want to help those in need. When I go to a sweatlodge healing ceremony all I am required to bring is tobacco, a gift of what I can give and some fruit. Humility would have never caused this accident. When I am in the sweatlodge I may leave if I need to. I am not required to stay in if I can't take it. Plus, there is cedar water in the lodge, and water outside of the lodge as well. The amount of people in that that killed these poor people should have never been so. There were way too many people!!! I have never seen a sweatlodge made of tarp! The one I attend is made of canvas and other natural materials. So, to those phoney elders, quit pretending you are an elder when you are NOT! and for those genuine elders,keep doing what you are doing! and for those who you want to experience the true meaning of a sweat, don't let those high-priced elders fool you! The Creator be with you today and always!

[sunshinyday]

This is a very sad sad story. I feel sorry for the ones who were naive. I attend these sort of ceremonies and the ones who hold ceremonies where I am from do not expect payment. True elders are not in it for the money, but rather they are humble and really want to help those in need. When I go to a sweatlodge healing ceremony all I am required to bring is tobacco, a gift of what I can give and some fruit. Humility would have never caused this accident. When I am in the sweatlodge I may leave if I need to. I am not required to stay in if I can't take it. Plus, there is cedar water in the lodge, and water outside of the lodge as well. The amount of people in that that killed these poor people should have never been so. There were way too many people!!! I have never seen a sweatlodge made of tarp! The one I attend is made of canvas and other natural materials. So, to those phoney elders, quit pretending you are an elder when you are NOT! and for those genuine elders,keep doing what you are doing! and for those who you want to experience the true meaning of a sweat, don't let those high-priced elders fool you! The Creator be with you today and always!

[Kathl007]

You can't buy spirituality and you can't buy common sense. I have had the experience of the sweat lodge ceremony on the Navajo nation during the years I lived there. Guess what! It's not about YOU! It is not about your spiritual growth. What these people at that retreat did was like going to a Thanksgiving dinner and praying deeply that they would receive a sports car. That is not what sweat is all about. It has more to do with praying that the sheep would survive and everyone has enough gas money to get through the winter. I am disgusted by new age charletans, and Sedona is chock full of crystal-gazing bored people. Yes, put fire in an enclosed hut with many people, there will be a lack of oxygen. Interesting how the Spiritual Warrior split the state immediately and wrote some really weird tweets the night of the deaths. Creepy.

[legacyabq]

I know.. It was the FOOD!!!!!!!!!!

Or some kooky "supplements" they were given as a "blood detoxifier" or some similar hokeyness.

Oops.

Feel bad for the people: not only were they divorced from a large sum of their money....but their lives as well...

Hey I believe in vitamins and herbs, but their are extreme fringe elements in the "alternative healing" industry that are...well..extreme..

Be warned!