James Arthur Ray arrested
Program Note: Tune in tonight for more on the arrest of James Arthur Ray. AC360° 10 p.m. ET.
Ismael Estrada
AC360° Producer
Yesterday, Gary Tuchman and I looked through hundreds of documents related to the October 2009 'Spiritual Warrior' retreat held by motivational speaker James Arthur Ray. The retreat, held in Sedona, Arizona, was where three people died after spending time in a sweat lodge. The documents related to the case were just released by the Yavapai County Sheriff's office.
We have been covering the story since last fall - interviewing many people who had been to this "sweat lodge" and many other James Arthur Ray events in the past.
We were preparing to put together another story when I was sent an email I wasn't expecting. It was from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office stating that James Arthur Ray has been arrested.
Gary spoke with Barbara Bunn, who was in the sweat lodge that day, and she immediately started crying. She says she felt a sense of relief.
Video: Sweat lodge survivor speaks
Gary Tuchman | BIO
AC360° Correspondent
'Sweat lodge' guru charged in deaths
Program note: Tune in at 10pm ET for the latest information on this case, and legal analysis.
CNN
Self-help guru James Ray was arrested Wednesday after a grand jury indictment charging him with three counts of manslaughter in the deaths of three participants at an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony he organized last year.
Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh said Ray was arrested at his attorney's office in Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday afternoon.
He will eventually be housed at the Camp Verde Detention Center, the sheriff's office said, and his bond has been set at $5 million.
Ray is charged with the deaths of Kirby Brown, James Shore and Liz Neuman.
Ray's attorney, Luis Li, said that the charges were unjust and that Ray would be exonerated in court.
Video: Eyewitness at sweat lodge
Gary Tuchman | BIO
AC360 Correspondent
Video: Eyewitness to sweat lodge deaths
Gary Tuchman | BIO
AC360° Correspondent
Video: Deadly cover up
Editor's Note: Tune in tonight for more on James Arthur Ray from one of his former employees, and watch Gary Tuchman's report below on a death 12 weeks before the sweat lodge incident. AC360° 10 p.m. ET.
Video: Self-help gone wrong
Program Note: Tune in tonight for Gary Tuchman's full report on James Arthur Ray's self-help program. AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.
James Arthur Ray's blog
James Arthur Ray
For me, for the families and friends of the sick and deceased and for many people who believe in the important work we do, these have been the most difficult ten days of our lives.
People are throwing out accusations and disparaging me and our mission. Yet despite that, and despite considerable criticism, I have chosen to continue with my work. It's too important not to. One of the lessons I teach is that you have to confront and embrace adversity and learn and grow from it. I promise you I am doing a lot of learning and growing. I have taken heat for that decision, but if I chose to lock myself in my home, I am sure I would be criticized for hiding and not practicing what I preach.
Wealth is about well-being, not money
James Arthur Ray
Author, Harmonic Wealth
Contrary to popular opinion, creating unlimited financial wealth won't come from chasing more money.
Now don't get me wrong, I can help you make more money–plenty of it! And if the statement above seems counter intuitive to you, then that's exactly why you and I need to spend more time together. Check this out...
A recent Gallup poll posted in USA Today found that 55% of those surveyed state their families are worse off financially today than they were this same time last year. This is the highest number since 1976, and it's an eleven-point jump since February of this year.
Interestingly enough, in the very same survey, 26% say they're better off than they were a year ago. What gives?
How is it that in the same economy (with the same government officials, the same war, same gas prices, same housing market) that one group thinks their finances are doing poorly but another group actually believes things are better?
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