Created Sun 11th Oct 6:54pm PST by
frogchop

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).
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.
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"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."
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.
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