Guru James Arthur Ray Charged in Sweat Lodge Deaths

(Feb. 3) -- James Arthur Ray, the motivational speaker who hosted a New Age retreat that ended when three people died in a Sedona, Ariz., sweat lodge, was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of manslaughter, authorities said.

The Yavapai County sheriff's deputies arrested Ray at his attorney's office in Prescott, Ariz., and bond was set at $5 million. Ray was being held in a county jail in Camp Verde.

Courtesy of James Ray International, AP

Self-help guru James Arthur Ray was charged with manslaughter Wednesday for the deaths of three people who were overcome during a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona last year.

Investigators contend that on Oct. 8, Ray told participants of a sweat lodge ceremony held at Angel Valley Retreat Center to remain inside the sweltering structure even though some of them complained of feeling ill, began vomiting and even passed out.

In an interview published last week in New York magazine, Ray responded to reports from witnesses who said he was aware of the vomiting.

"I may have mentioned that I had been told by many shamans that the body purges and there's only certain ways that it can purge," Ray told the magazine. "Obviously, you know the bodily functions, so there's only certain ways to exit the body."

Witnesses said Ray also told the group, "You're not going to die. You might think you are, but you're not going to die."

Three people – Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y. – died and 18 others were hospitalized.

On his Web site, Ray has maintained his innocence, and, in a statement, his lawyers contended that charges in the matter are not necessary.

"The charges are unjust and we will prove it in court," said the statement from Munger, Tolles & Olson, the firm representing Ray. "This was a terrible accident – but it was an accident, not a criminal act."

According to The Associated Press, the five-day retreat cost more than $9,000 per person, and Ray promised that it would be an intense experience.