Created Sun 11th Oct 6:54pm PST by

frogchop Level 17, Superdubber (H$1,688,967)

Will anyone be criminally charged in connection with the Arizona sweat lodge deaths?

Background: A 38-year-old New York woman who died after sitting in a sauna-like sweat lodge at a scenic Arizona resort was an avid surfer and hiker who was "in top shape," took self-improvement seriously and had a passion for art, a family spokesman said.

Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y., was one of two people who died Thursday evening after being overcome in the crudely built hut during a spiritual cleansing ceremony. Authorities on Saturday identified the other victim as 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee, who served as director of business development at an Internet marketing company in his hometown.

Nineteen other people were taken to hospitals, suffering from burns, dehydration, respiratory arrest, kidney failure or elevated body temperature. Most were soon released, but one remained in critical condition Saturday.

Brown had no pre-existing health conditions that would have kept her from participating in an otherwise safe activity, said cousin and family spokesman Tom McFeeley. That two people died and 19 others became ill at the Angel Valley Retreat Center indicates that "something went horribly wrong."

Yavapai County Sheriff Steve Waugh said Saturday that his detectives were focusing on self-help expert and author James Arthur Ray and his staff as they try to determine if criminal negligence played a role. Waugh said Ray refused to speak with authorities and has since left the state.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/11/national/main5377290.shtml?tag=topnews

So will anyone be charged criminally regarding the deaths, hospitalizations or somehow otherwise directly connected to the construction, operation or use of the sweat lodge? Civil construciton code violations will not count, nor will other civil legal action (i.e. law suit by families).

Settlement details:As reported by a major mainstream news source. No news will settle as no at settlement date. May settle immediately upon news of criminal charges. Settlement date may only be adjusted if there is news that a grand jury is still investigating the matter, in which case a maximum 3 month extension will be allowed.

Forecast history %

Yes

91%

Question suspends in 19 weeks

Activity: H$75,672
Predictions: 64
Comments: 5

Suspend date: Sun 11th Apr 2010 11:59pm PST (19 weeks to go)

Initial likelihoods: Yes: 30%

Action history:

Created Sun 11th Oct 6:54pm PST by

frogchop Level 17, Superdubber (H$1,688,967)

hide

Suspend date: Sun 11th Apr 2010 11:59pm PST (19 weeks to go) details

Get widget!

Post on Digg Delicious Reddit Facebook

Predictions (64)

2 weeks ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$357,410)

predicted Yes (H$100 at 87%)

4 weeks ago

slidypete Level 3, Apprentice (H$1,132)

predicted Yes (H$200 at 62%)

4 weeks ago

limeinside Level 6, Player (H$2,726)

predicted Yes (H$50 at 64%)

4 weeks ago

limeinside Level 6, Player (H$2,726)

predicted Yes (H$50 at 64%)

5 weeks ago

bigken1 Level 15, Seer (H$357,410)

predicted Yes (H$1,000 at 62%)

Comments (5)

imantsdimants Level 15, Seer (H$265,055)

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/oct/15/sedona-sweat-lodge-native-american

"The sweat lodge is considered the womb of the Mother Earth, a living being, so it must breathe in order for it to participate in the ceremony.
News accounts out of Sedona indicate that New Age self-help expert James Arthur Ray's sweat lodge was covered in plastic sheeting.
As I have tracked the news stories and anecdotes of sweat lodge deaths and near-disasters, every one of them was covered with plastic sheeting or plastic tarps."

posted 5 weeks ago

frogchop Level 17, Superdubber (H$1,688,967)

"I can't get her to move. I can't get her to wake up," Bunn recalled hearing from two sides of the 415-square-foot sweat lodge. Ray's response: "Leave her alone, she'll be dealt with in the next round."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33415987/ns/us_news-life/

I don't know how low the bar is for criminally negligent homocide or reckless endangerment is in Arizona, but surely his utter disregard for the welfare of folks under his guidance would speak loudly to a jury if it gets that far.

posted 4 weeks ago

slidypete Level 3, Apprentice (H$1,132)

When I read the definitions of criminal negligence, hegligent homicide, and reckless endangerment, and I read the accounts of people in the lodge and hear Shawna Brown's experience of arriving on the scene afterwards, it is difficult to see any other lens. He appears to have been completely ignorant of or intentionally ignoring signs of dehydration and lack of oxygen, not to mention the basics of how to run a sweat lodge. I read that he made this statement at his 2008 sweat lodge (where 20 people also got sick): "You will not die. You may feel like you will die, but you will not." I wonder if he repeated that statement this year.

posted 4 weeks ago

slidypete Level 3, Apprentice (H$1,132)

oh now I read the paragraph on "settling." Of course he will try to settle. But could he settle with the families, but still have the sheriff's office prosecute?

posted 4 weeks ago

frogchop Level 17, Superdubber (H$1,688,967)

Sure. The Sheriff's office has an obligation to enforce state criminal law. The families have the option of filing a civil claim or not, but it's a choice either way for them.

posted 3 weeks ago