James Arthur Ray

PRESCOTT, Ariz. 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 yesterday. 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 said. “Whether or not we can prove a criminal case, that has yet to be determined.’’ Waugh said investigators are looking at the way the sweat lodge was built, the fact that people had fallen...

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A self-help author imprisoned for the deaths of three people following an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony settled civil lawsuits with the victims' families for more than $3 million, according to court documents. James Arthur Ray began serving a two-year sentence last month on three negligent homicide convictions. The terms of the settlements reached last year recently were disclosed in court documents filed as exhibits in Ray's criminal case and released yesterday at the request of the Associated Press.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Authorities have charged motivational speaker James Arthur Ray with three counts of manslaughter for deaths that happened after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in northern Arizona last year. Ray was arrested yesterday afternoon at his attorney’s office in Prescott on an indictment and was to be booked into the Yavapai County jail in Camp Verde, sheriff’s officials said. His bond is set at $5 million. The Oct. 8 sweat lodge ceremony was intended to be the highlight of Ray’s five-day “Spiritual Warrior’’ event.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - A charismatic self-help author was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for leading an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony that was supposed to offer spiritual enlightenment but instead ended with disoriented participants struggling to breathe and being dragged outside. Three people died. A judge gave James Arthur Ray three two-year sentences, to be served concurrently, and ordered him to pay more than $57,000 in restitution "I find that the aggravating circumstance of emotional harm is so strong and such that probation is simply unwarranted in this case," said Yavapai County...

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The attorney for the family of a Minnesota woman who died more than a week after being overcome in an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony said yesterday that he plans to sue over her death. Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, suffered multiple organ damage and was in a coma before she died Saturday at a Flagstaff hospital. She was among dozens crowded into the sweat lodge Oct. 8 at a resort outside Sedona, a city 115 miles north of Phoenix that draws many in the New Age spiritual movement.

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. — A self-help author who led a deadly sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona was found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide yesterday. Jurors in the case against James Arthur Ray began deliberating Tuesday after a four-month trial. Ray showed no reaction as the verdict was read. His parents and brother sat behind him, while victims’ family members and friends held hands and looked on from across the courtroom. Prosecutors asked that Ray be taken into custody immediately, but the judge denied the request.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A self-help author imprisoned for the deaths of three people following an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony settled civil lawsuits with the victims' families for more than $3 million, according to court documents. James Arthur Ray began serving a two-year sentence last month on three negligent homicide convictions. The terms of the settlements reached last year recently were disclosed in court documents filed as exhibits in Ray's criminal case and released yesterday at the request of the Associated Press.

PHOENIX - Two people died and 19 others were taken to hospitals after being overcome while sitting in a sweat lodge at a Sedona retreat, authorities said yesterday. In all, 21 of the 64 people crowded inside the sweat lodge Thursday evening were transported to hospitals. Four remained hospitalized last evening - one in critical condition and the others in fair condition. Authorities haven’t determined the cause of the deaths and illnesses; tests for carbon monoxide and other contaminants were negative.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - More than 50 followers of spiritual guru James Arthur Ray had just endured five strenuous days of fasting, sleep deprivation, and mind-altering breathing exercises when he led them into a sweat lodge ceremony. It was supposed to be a religious awakening, the culmination of a $9,000-plus per person retreat outside Sedona aimed at helping people find a new vision for life. But it wasn’t long before the ceremony turned into a terrifying experience. People were vomiting in the stifling heat, gasping for air, and laying lifeless on the sand and gravel...

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - A charismatic self-help author was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for leading an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony that was supposed to offer spiritual enlightenment but instead ended with disoriented participants struggling to breathe and being dragged outside. Three people died. A judge gave James Arthur Ray three two-year sentences, to be served concurrently, and ordered him to pay more than $57,000 in restitution "I find that the aggravating circumstance of emotional harm is so strong and such that probation is simply unwarranted in...

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. — A self-help author who led a deadly sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona was found guilty of three counts of negligent homicide yesterday. Jurors in the case against James Arthur Ray began deliberating Tuesday after a four-month trial. Ray showed no reaction as the verdict was read. His parents and brother sat behind him, while victims’ family members and friends held hands and looked on from across the courtroom. Prosecutors asked that Ray be taken into custody immediately, but the judge denied the request.

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. - Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray pleaded not guilty yesterday to three counts of manslaughter at his first court appearance since being charged with causing three deaths at an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony he led. Ray was indicted and arrested Wednesday for the deaths at an Oct. 8 ceremony intended to be the highlight of his five-day “Spiritual Warrior’’ event. The ceremony was held at a retreat center he rented near Sedona. Ray, shackled at the wrists and ankles and wearing an orange jail uniform, did not...

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Authorities have charged motivational speaker James Arthur Ray with three counts of manslaughter for deaths that happened after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in northern Arizona last year. Ray was arrested yesterday afternoon at his attorney’s office in Prescott on an indictment and was to be booked into the Yavapai County jail in Camp Verde, sheriff’s officials said. His bond is set at $5 million. The Oct. 8 sweat lodge ceremony was intended to be the highlight of Ray’s five-day “Spiritual Warrior’’ event.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - More than 50 followers of spiritual guru James Arthur Ray had just endured five strenuous days of fasting, sleep deprivation, and mind-altering breathing exercises when he led them into a sweat lodge ceremony. It was supposed to be a religious awakening, the culmination of a $9,000-plus per person retreat outside Sedona aimed at helping people find a new vision for life. But it wasn’t long before the ceremony turned into a terrifying experience. People were vomiting in the stifling heat, gasping for air, and laying lifeless on the sand and gravel...

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The attorney for the family of a Minnesota woman who died more than a week after being overcome in an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony said yesterday that he plans to sue over her death. Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, suffered multiple organ damage and was in a coma before she died Saturday at a Flagstaff hospital. She was among dozens crowded into the sweat lodge Oct. 8 at a resort outside Sedona, a city 115 miles north of Phoenix that draws many in the New Age spiritual movement.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. 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 yesterday. 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 said. “Whether or not we can prove a criminal case, that has yet to be determined.’’ Waugh said investigators are looking at the way the sweat lodge was built, the fact that...