A third victim of the “sweatbox” incident died Saturday, Oct. 17. The three deaths are now being investigated as homicides.
Lizbeth Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., died at Flagstaff Medical Center, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
Neuman had reportedly suffered multiple organ damage following a sweat lodge incident at on Oct. 8 at Angel Valley Retreat Center, southwest of Sedona.
The sweat lodge event was part of a week-long Spiritual Warrior retreat hosted by self-help motivational speaker James Arthur Ray.
Neuman was one of four patients airlifted to FMC. Seventeen other participants were taken by ambulance to Verde Valley Medical Center the night of the incident, according to the Verde Valley Fire District. Victims were treated for illnesses ranging from dehydration to kidney failure.
Between 55 and 64 attended the Spiritual Warrior retreat in early October. Authorities are uncertain how many participated in the sweat lodge and how many were inside the sweat lodge itself when the 21 people began to fall ill.
Two patients, 40-year-old James Shore, of Milwaukee, and 38-year-old Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y., died shortly after arriving at VVMC.
At the time of her death, Neuman was the last patient still hospitalized, YCSO reports stated.
Autopsies are still pending from the Yavapai County Medical Examiner as of Monday, Oct. 19.
Following a criminal investigation, YCSO detectives elevated the sweat lodge incident from an accidental death inquiry to a homicide investigation Friday, Oct. 16.
In 2005, Verde Valley Fire District transported another patient who may been involved in a sweat lodge incident at Angel Valley.
There was reportedly no building permit for sweat lodge. YCSO stated that Ray’s staff built the lodge. Ray stated that Angel Valley employees built the lodge.
YCSO detectives and Carlsbad, Calif., police served a search warrant at James Ray International headquarters on Oct. 14. Detectives were reportedly searching for medical information about the attendees of the Spiritual Warrior retreat.
Authorities were also searching for any information Ray had about the construction and use of sweat lodges and whether he or his staff had notified participants of the risks.
Detectives are trying to find and interview previous attendees, staff and workers at Ray’s Spiritual Warrior retreats or his similar events. Anyone with information should contact YCSO online at www.ycsoaz.gov or by calling Yavapai Silent Witness at (800) 932-3232.
Ray refers to himself as “the rock star of personal transformation” and a “visionary.” Author of the book “Harmonic Wealth,” Ray was featured in the 2006 self-help film “The Secret,” and has appeared on “Oprah,” “The Today Show” and “Larry King Live.”
Ray hosts seminars and retreats about about using positive thinking and “the Law of Attraction” to generate wealth.
Ray reportedly refused to speak to YCSO detectives about the incident and left the state.
He has continued to host seminars mainly in Southern California and still offers reservations for his next Spiritual Warrior retreat scheduled in Sedona from Sept. 18 to 23, 2010.
The Web site for Ray’s Spiritual Warrior program reads, “There is no sacrifice — only greater and more magnificent results, wealth, adventure and fulfillment. You owe it to the rest of your life to get to Spiritual Warrior as quickly as you can. The investment is only $9,695 per person.”
No charges have yet been filed in the case.
Christopher Fox Graham can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 129, or cgraham@larsonnewspaper.com
