PRESCOTT-- Even though lawsuits are beginning to appear over the Sweat Lodge deaths at Angel Valley, the criminal investigation into James Arthur Ray's Spiritual Warrior session is far from over.
The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office has released a new advisory about the investigation that asks the public to be patient with the plodding investigation.
"Detectives maintain their efforts to locate and interview everyone involved in the Oct. 8 sweat lodge event, including anyone directly connected to events in the past as participants or organizers," YCSO spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn stated in a release. "The sheer volume of interviews, estimated in the hundreds, will take time to complete and document as part of the final report to the County Attorney's Office."
The Monday release indicates the investigation should be forwarded to the County Attorney in December, at which point a press release will be issued.
Because the sweat lodge deaths, under the guidance of a motivational guru, has drawn so much public interest, the Sheriff's office says, pointedly, "Until then, the Sheriff's Office will have no further comment on the investigation."
Ray has canceled the balance of his live sessions with followers through the end of December saying on his Web site that time is needed to investigate the cause of the deaths.
A wrongful death suit has been filed by the family of 49-year-old Lizbeth Neuman of Minnesota, who died in the hospital a week after the event. Kirby Brown, 38, of New York and 40-year-old James Shore, of Wisconsin, were pronounced dead the night of the incident.
Sidney Spencer, 59, filed a second suit. She sat near the three deceased in the crowded sweat lodge. Spencer was hospitalized with kidney and liver failure and respiratory arrest after collapsing.
The mother of Kirby Brown reportedly told Larry King recently that Ray sent a condolence card to her with a check for $5,000, half the amount Kirby Brown had paid for the Spiritual Warrior experience.
The Los Angeles Times is speculating that Ray needs cash to settle suits in the sale of his Beverly Hills home that he purchased last year for $4 million. Sale price is now $5.4 million.
James Ray's publisher Hyperion has delayed the release of two of his books.
Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, November 20, 2009
Article comment by:
DLCastillo
Its so sad to meet people who have had a previladge life want to pay 1000s of dollars to suffer in whats called a sweat lodge so that they can know what it feel like to suffer so that they can enjoy their lives more. And of course we get these Jim Jones Vampires out there waiting and willing to take every dollar these Stephord People want to dig up so they can feel some sprt of pain in order to enjoy their easy lives again??? CRAZY! Why not just walk thru a ghetto and let someone rob them of maybe 300 bucks, then get kicked around to know what it feels like to suffer or work in an Infant AIDs clinic, etc???
Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Article comment by:
Isn't he generous
Isn't he generous...$5000 for a life...1/2 of what the poor lady paid. After all, she did use the facilties, right Ray? Sheesh!
