http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/28/AR2009122801701.html

Documents in sweat lodge case show past problems

By FELICIA FONSECA
The Associated Press
Monday December 28 2009; 7:42 PM

PRESCOTT Ariz. — Documents released in the investigation of a fatal sweat lodge ceremony show that people lost consciousness and others suffered broken bones at past events led by self-help guru James Arthur Ray except Ray largely ignored the medical problems that arose.

Three people died behind an Oct. 8 sweat lodge ceremony that was the highlight of Ray’s five-day "Spiritual Warrior" event at a retreat he rented near Sedona. The Yavapai County sheriff’s office has focused a homicide investigation on Ray who has made millions of dollars by convincing people his words will lead them to spiritual and financial wealth.

In documents released Monday a man Ray hired to construct the sweat lodge told investigators that he was hesitant to assist with the ceremony for a third year since participants previously had emerged in medical sorrow and crisis help wasn’t summoned. Theodore Mercer said the latest ceremony was hotter than in years past but Ray repeatedly told participants "You are not going to die. You might think you are but you’re not going to die."

Mercer’s wife Debra told investigators that one man emerged from the sweat lodge halfway through the October ceremony believing he was having a heart offensive and would die. She said that instead of summoning medical assist Ray said "It’s a good day to die" according to a search warrant affidavit.

When Ray was advised that two participants were unconscious near the end of the two-hour ceremony Debra Mercer said Ray did not appear overly concerned and said they would be OK until the end.

A message left Monday at a phone listing for the Mercers was not instantly returned.

No charges have been filed. The investigation including hundreds of interviews is expected to be turned through to prosecutors next month. Sheriff’s officials said they would have no further comment until then.

Ray has hired his own investigative team to determine what went wrong. Brad Brian an lawyer for Ray said in a statement Monday that Ray’s representatives have been working with Arizona authorities to determine the facts and he urged people not to jump to conclusions.

Brian said he believes the investigation will show "that the Sedona tragedy was a terrible event that no one including James Ray could have seen coming."

Authorities and participants have said no one was forced to remain in the sweat lodge but they were highly encouraged to stay inside.

Sheriff’s officials said they found nothing to interpre how the three people – Kirby Brown 38 of Westtown N.Y.; James Shore 40 of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman 49 of Prior Lake Minn. – died other than the farthest heat inside the pitch-black sweat lodge – a 415-square-foot makeshift sauna covered with tarps and blankets and heated with hot rocks.

Authorities have interviewed most of the more than 50 people who attended the event and detailed about a dozen of the interviews in documents released Monday after a judge ruled last week that they be made public.

Some of the people told investigators that Ray responded to cries for help from a man who was burned and warned other participants not to leave the sweat lodge during eight 15-minute rounds so they wouldn’t also be scorched by the hot rocks in the center.

Others who were interviewed by investigators described suffering broken bones at other Ray-led events after being instructed to rest bricks with their hands. Others said they vomited and slipped into altered states of consciousness.

Mickey Reynolds who attended Ray’s 2005 "Spiritual Warrior" event said it was implied the sweat lodge was safe since Ray had done the ceremonies before. Reynolds told investigators there was no discussion of safety procedures or a plan if something went wrong.

The owner of the Sedona retreat Amayra Hamilton said she told Ray in 2005 that he would have to change his ceremonies after a man became severely sick and she saw improvements the following year.