James Arthur Ray, leader of Arizona retreat that left 3 dead, cancels remaining 2009 seminars

Leader of retreat that left 3 dead cancels events

PHOENIX — Motivational speaker and author James Arthur Ray has canceled his remaining 2009 seminars in the wake of three deaths that occurred after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in Arizona.

Ray announced on his Web site Thursday that he needs to dedicate all his “physical and emotional energies” to bringing closure to the sweat lodge matter.

“That means helping the authorities and the families get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.

The decision marks a sea change for Ray, a charismatic public speaker who recruits people for his expensive retreats through free seminars at hotels and conference centers across North America.

Following the tragedy that led to the deaths and the hospitalization of 18 other people, he initially vowed to continue holding the events and appeared at seminars in Los Angeles, San Diego and Colorado.

In a posting on his blog on Oct. 20, Ray said he had “chosen to continue with my work. It’s too important not to.”

Since then, lawyers for several of the victims have said they plan to pursue lawsuits, although none have been filed.

The lawyer for a southern Arizona woman badly hurt in the incident said late Thursday that he planned to file the first lawsuit in the case on Friday.

Sidney Spencer was hospitalized for days with kidney and liver failure and respiratory arrest following the ceremony, said the lawyer, Ted Schmidt of Tucson, Ariz. Schmidt said he plans to file a lawsuit alleging negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and other actions against Ray, the retreat center where the event was held and others in an Arizona court.

Ray’s publisher also announced this week that it has postponed the December release of a paperback version of Ray’s best-selling book “Harmonic Wealth” and a new hardcover title, “The Seven Laws of True Wealth.”

Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee, died at a hospital the night of the incident. Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., died more than a week later.

Authorities in Yavapai County, Ariz., are continuing a criminal investigation into the Oct. 8 incident at a high-priced retreat outside Sedona. Search warrants were served at the headquarters of Ray’s company, Carlsbad, Calif.-based James Ray International, and detectives have interviewed many of the 55-plus people who were inside the sweat lodge.

No charges have been filed.

The sweat lodge was part of Ray’s five-day “Spiritual Warrior” program. Interviews with participants and law enforcement officials paint a picture of a two-hour ceremony that degenerated into chaos as people became sick but were encouraged by Ray to remain inside for the entire time.