Jury convicts self-help author in AZ sweat lodge deaths

A jury hasconvicted a self-help author who led a sweat lodge ceremony inArizona that left three people dead. Jurors in Camp Verde, Ariz., reached their verdict Wednesdayafter a four-month trial. James

News 12 Staff

May 20, 2014, 6:16 PM

Updated 3,790 days ago

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A jury hasconvicted a self-help author who led a sweat lodge ceremony inArizona that left three people dead. Jurors in Camp Verde, Ariz., reached their verdict Wednesdayafter a four-month trial. James Arthur Ray was found guilty of three counts of negligenthomicide. More than 50 people participated in the October 2009 sweat lodgethat was meant to be the highlight of Ray's five-day "SpiritualWarrior" seminar near Sedona. Three people died following the sauna-like ceremony meant toprovide spiritual cleansing. Eighteen were hospitalized, whileothers were treated at the scene. Prosecutors and defense attorneysdisagreed over whether the deaths and illnesses were caused by heator toxins. Ray's attorneys have maintained the deaths were a tragicaccident. Prosecutors argued Ray recklessly caused the fatalities. Kirby Brown, of Westtown, was among the three victims. AP wire services contributed to this report
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