Murder Probe in Sweat Lodge Deaths

Arizona Sheriff Investigating Two Deaths During Ceremony At Retreat Says They Were not Accidental

(CBS/ AP)  The deaths of two people during a sweat lodge ceremony led by self-help expert James Arthur Ray are being investigated as homicides, authorities said Thursday.

Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh said the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown N.Y. and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee were not accidental.

"A combination of circumstances led to the deaths," Waugh told reporters. "Whether or not we can prove a criminal case, that has yet to be determined."

More coverage of the sweat lodge deaths from Crimesider

Desperate 911 Call Provides First Glimpse Into Deaths
James Arthur Ray "Frustrated and Confused" Over Deaths
Sweat Lodge Owner Didn't Have Permits
Investigation Turns to Self-Help Guru James Arthur Ray

Waugh said investigators are looking at the way the sweat lodge was built, the fact that people had fallen ill at previous sweat ceremonies led by Ray, and questionable medical care on site. Ray is the primary focus of the probe but others also are being investigated, the sheriff said.

Shawna Bowen, a therapist who happened to arrive at the scene, said on "The Early Show" Friday she didn't see Ray attending to anyone personally. Instead, she said, he was letting paramedics help people who needed medical attention.

Bowen, who said she's been a sweat lodge participant for nine years, said she was "confused" when over Ray's sweat lodge set-up, citing things she heard from people who were inside the lodge, including that they couldn't get fresh air.

"As I processed, I felt myself very confused," she said. "I looked up to this man, and given what I know about the sweat lodge, and what I saw, I was confused emotionally, and wondered what he planned to say or do and how he planned to respond to what had happened."

A call to Ray's spokesman wasn't immediately returned after the sheriff's announcement.

Ray led more than 50 people into a makeshift sweat lodge at a retreat outside Sedona, Ariz., on Oct. 8. After about two hours, Brown and Shore were pulled out of the sweat lodge. Nineteen other people were taken to hospitals, and one remains in critical condition.

"He's a motivational speaker who tried his hand at very dangerous physical things, and it was reckless," Brown's cousin and family spokesman Tom McFeeley said of the sheriff's announcement. "It doesn't surprise us in the least."

A search warrant was served Wednesday at Ray's Carlsbad, Calif.-based company, James Ray International. Deputies were looking for medical records of those attending the Sedona retreat and other, unspecified items, Waugh said.

Ray declined to be interviewed by the sheriff's office on the night of the incident and returned to California.

The motivational speaker, author and self-help guru offers clients the promise of both spiritual and financial wealth if they sign on to his programs. The five-day "Spiritual Warrior" course during which the deaths occurred had about 50 participants who paid more than $9,000 each.

The culmination was the sweat lodge ceremony that ended in tragedy. Records obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday showed local fire officials responded to the same retreat for a person who fell unconscious during a Ray-led sweat ceremony in 2005.

Ray held a telephone conference call with many of the sweat ceremony on Wednesday, according to people on the call. A recording of the call was made and transcribed by one of the listeners, said McFeeley, who also listened in and provided the transcript to the Associated Press.

During the call, Ray stressed the importance of eating healthy food, exercising, resting, meditation and surrounding themselves with "like-minded individuals."

"Remember all that we've learned and experienced and knowing by law of the universe that out of every apparent chaos comes a greater state of order, an order that never existed prior to the chaos," he said, after asking those on the conference call to imagine themselves standing in a prayer circle.

Ray said he used the call as a way to provide closure to those attending the retreat outside Sedona, according to the transcript. Ray's spokesman, Howard Bragman, confirmed the telephone conference was held.

Ray stopped short of apologizing to participants for not being at the Angel Valley Retreat Center the morning after the deaths, saying "I hope you understand it certainly wasn't my wish not to be with you and bring you some kind of closure."

Fewer than a dozen callers were identified in the transcript, all of whom praised Ray and described his intentions as "pure" and their experiences as "profound." They also expressed sympathy for the families of the victims but suggested that the deaths of Brown and Shore were by choice.

"It breaks my heart to know that the families are suffering," said one caller identified as Brent. "I think that the people that left, I do believe they made their own choices, whether on this level or the next, but I do feel really for the families."

McFeeley said the comments on the call solidify his belief that Ray is controlling the people involved in his self-help program.

"There were reasonable people at this event, and it shows the power one man can have when you combine physical and mental mistreatment," McFeeley said. "Everything in this retreat seems to have been taken too far, and those statements were hurtful to hear and probably more hurtful to communicate them to the family last night."

[realnative]

I am a REAL Native American Indian. These "spirital guru's" do not even follow what true American Indians practice. Maybe they should go to the real reservation and get a lesson. How come no one is interviewing Native's on how a sweat lodge is really used?

[sam-kiley]

bojour
Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh said the deaths of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown N.Y. and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee were not accidental.

dire est une chose..prouver en est une autre...
c'est terrible ce qui arrive là...au revoir

[jtonzola]

CRAZY! CRAZY! CRAZY!

Do you honestly think his intentions were to hurt these people? I MEAN REALLY! We are so stuck on this American justice needs to be served mentality. There was a comment above about as children we were told not to put our head in a plastic bag and what was he thinking by putting these people in there. The people were the stupid ones getting in there in the first place. If the 50 people werent concerned how could he be? No one saw this coming thats why its called an ACCIDENT PEOPLE! Does he deserve some sort of punishment? maybe. at the end of the day what can you do that would take back the hurt these families feel? NOTHING! We are creatures that learn from our mistakes. This is obviously a lesson well learned for all who were involved! HES GOT TO LIVE WITH THIS ON HIS BRAIN FOREVER! HOW would YOU feel?

[hogi2]

If James Ray had the proper training, he could have seen this coming. It took me all of one second to see that the lodge was covered in plastic. Accidents and carelessness are not the same thing. Of course he did not plan this, but he did do this. He needs to step up and take responsibility for what he did. Where did he get his training to run a lodge? I have heard the term "warrior sweat" many times, it is used for those who are literally going into or have been in combat. Anything else is only a metaphor and an insult to our service me and women.

[lostfaithinray]

YES stupidity is not an excuse for him. Is a drunk driver intention to kill the person he hits no but his actions of drinking and driving put him in the situation likely to kill. SAME WITH THIS MAN. AND YES I KNOW HIM I HAVE BEEN TO HIS EVENTS. He lost to his ego a while back. He is totally ego driven money money money money OH and lets not forget The World Wealth Society that no one is talking about. You PAY $75,000 to be his friend for ONE YEAR. HE SHOULD LIVE WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. My friend that gave CPR to one of the victims will live with it the rest of her life. The familys will live with it the rest of thier life. Have you ever lost someone. I have and you never forget. INTENTIONS something he talks alot about he said it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there in his Harmonic Wealth seminar. UMMMMMM Doesn't matter how you get there . . . .

[azdbaxfan]

I find it disgusting that someone who is NOT Native American would charge people any amount of money much less $9000 for people to participate in a Native American spiritual ceremony.

[kno-1]

This is a classic result of brainwashing within the cult mentality. Many a psychological article and book has been written chronicling the techniques used to manipulate the mind and turn rational and intelligent people to cults. In fact, studies show that the most susceptible person to join a cult are people with middle to upper-middle income, little or no organized religion in their background and they hold a BA or some Post Grad work. Add a mentally/physically stressful life crisis to the equation and BINGO! You are open to cult suggestion.

[babooph]

The bigger & louder the lie....

[John_Merritt]

These type of seminars are supposed to be blessings to people based on reason, respect and responsibility; to themselves and to whatever life represents. When you take any physical exercise to an extreme and you ply the brain with confusion based on fasting, meditation, extreme heat, dehydration and lack of nutritional supplements in the Arizona desert and than under a tent with mind boggling heat something is going to happen.

Mr. Ray's intentions might have been pure, but the conditions he placed these people under might be seen in a Army Ranger, Green Beret, Navy Seal or Special Forces Ops training and exercise (sans the meditation). The average person is not conditioned to be a warrior in this sense, because this is borderline insanity and not the practice of a person who is trying to find God and themselves through a 'tormented stated'. Enough said.

[rwsmith29456]

It might as well be homocied. At best he was leading people into some makeshift furnace. Some people got a real spiritual experience by listening to him. They're dead.

[outlawcowboy3]

Some people are just plan stupid. Sweat lodges are big medcin. When you ply with fire you will get burned some sooner some later.

[credibility2]

These people were in search of the me that never existed. They were foolish, stupid and delusional. This man deliberately took advantage of their mental and emotional instability. He hasn't any credentials. Another off-shoot of the great Oprah, also lacking in credentials. Ray was responsible for the deaths and injuries. I hope he loses everything after being sued. He deserves to be placed in prison for the rest of his life.

[hollyinspired]

I'm so saddened by the fact that the deaths of James and Kirby have escalated into a homicide investigation. I've been to several James Ray seminars, and I will continue to go until I finish the 5-part series...including the grand finale which is "Spiritual Warrior." I know James. I know his staff....all are amazing and loving people trying to help those of us who are ready to move beyond our "perceived" limitations.

If you're not into self improvement, you will never know what these events are like. I've learned so much from James, Tony Robbins, and Esther/Jerry Hicks. In fact, if it hadn't been for "The Secret," I too, would be dead.

A friend of mine is the one that's still in critical condition. She's been in a coma since she was air-lifted from the retreat site. She's been actively volunteering for James for several years...I can't even count the number of events she's supported. I pray she makes a speedy recovery.

[bill0bob]

"I will continue to go until I finish the 5-part series...including the grand finale which is "Spiritual Warrior." -- hollyinspired

"A friend of mine is the one that's still in critical condition" -- hollyinspired

James Ray promotes MONEY, not spirituality.

Your friend is in critical condition now because James Ray didn't know, or didn't care, how to safely manage a sweat lodge. After the deaths, Ray called the survivors and got a woman named Barb to tell them that a "channeler" at the retreat last Friday said the deceased had an out-of-body experience during the sweat lodge ceremony and that they "were having so much fun that they chose not to come back." That's despicable!

I think James Ray is likely to be found guilty of negligent homicide. If so, consider yourself very lucky that you will never get to attend that "grand finale"!

[lostfaithinray]

Sorry about your Liz, I heard from a dear friend of mine and hers that she passed on. I too have been to many of James Ray events, I thought they were great at FIRST. GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE CLOUDS GIRL FRIEND. His ego took over a when he started THE WORLD WEALTH SOCIETY and people had to pay to be his friend. HE DID NOT LET THEM LEAVE. If you were there you know this to be true. I know people there personally and talked to them. They feel guilty because THEY TRYED TO GET KIRBY OUT AND HE REFUSED TO LET THEM!!!!!!!!!! HE has to take responsiblitly and pay for his actions. His staff is nice and great but he lost control a while back. I SAW SOMEONE ALMOST LOSE AN EYE at one of his events, he didn't care in the least and chalked it up as a leason. He left someone behind dressed as a bum in San Diego LEFT THEM. HE DIDN"T CARE!!!!! HE DID NOT LET PEOPLE LEAVE THE SWEAT LODGE. I thought he wanted "you" to have YOUR OWN experience. HE took that away when he got so controlling. HE IS RESPONSIBLE. My heart goes out to those that have FRIENDS LIKE YOU AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY! HAVE A BAKC BONE AND OPEN YOU EYES.

[rondivoo]

How can these deaths be crimes when the people willingly paid this guy, attended his event, and went into the sweat lodge? Nobody forced them into this situation.

[bill0bob]

"How can these deaths be crimes when the people willingly paid this guy..."

If you willingly pay me money to shoot you in the head, that is still a crime! If you buy bad food at a restaurant and eat it, and then die from food poisoning, that is a crime, too!

In this case, Ray's negligence and lack of concern for the safety of the people attending his "seminar" may make him guilty of negligent homicide. He directed the sweat lodge, he deprived them of food beforehand, he over-crowded the lodge, he is responsible for what happened to them.

[writer10]

exactly bill0bob

[lostfaithinray]

HE DID NOT ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE AND DID NOT ALLOW THE OTHERS TO HELP THEM OUT WHEN KIRBY WAS MAKING WIERED SOUNDS FROM HER BODY AND WAS TURNING PURPLE AND DID I MENTION THAT KIRBY WAS RIGHT BY JAMES SO HE COULD CLEARLY SEE HER>