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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.


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

Gallery

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

Sweat lodge victim's family holds Ray responsible

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