Sweat lodge victim's family holds Ray responsible

The daughter of a Prior Lake woman who died after an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony said she wants the man who led it behind bars.

Law enforcement is investigating the Oct. 8 ceremony at a retreat near Sedona, Ariz., led by motivational speaker James Arthur Ray. Three participants died and 18 were hospitalized after the sweat lodge ceremony.

"I would like to honestly see him behind bars. I think that what he did was negligent and resulted in the deaths of three people," Liz Neuman's daughter, Andrea Puckett, told KARE-TV in Minneapolis. "I would like to see him not doing his work anymore, I don't think he should do this to other people."

The family intends to file a wrongful death lawsuit against Ray soon. Ray's attorney did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment; Howard Bragman, who had been Ray's spokesman, said Wednesday that he no longer worked for Ray.

Neuman, 49, died more than a week after the ceremony at a Flagstaff hospital. The other two victims died at a hospital the night of the ceremony: Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y., and James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee.

In all, between 55 and 65 people took part in the sweat lodge ceremony, the highlight of a five-day program at the private retreat near Sedona. Participants and law enforcement officials previously told The Associated Press that the two-hour ceremony degenerated into chaos as people became sick, but were encouraged by Ray to stay inside for the entire time.

Neuman's relatives said she faithfully followed the teachings of Ray, an author whose "Spiritual Warrior" program encouraged participants to realize their potential. Puckett said her mother, who had attended previous retreats led by Ray, had become a leader in his organization.

"She always comes back rejuvenated and ready to tackle life," Puckett said. But, she added, her mother "trusted Mr. Ray to lead the sweat lodge appropriately."

She said Ray didn't call the family until a day after her mother died.

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Information from: KARE-TV, http://www.kare11.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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