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Self-help author James Arthur Ray, whose seminar led to tragedy and death, dies at 67

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Self-help author James Arthur Ray, whose seminar led to tragedy and death, dies at 67
News

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Self-help author James Arthur Ray, whose seminar led to tragedy and death, dies at 67

2025-01-07 07:54 Last Updated At:08:12

PHOENIX (AP) — James Arthur Ray, a self-help guru whose multimillion-dollar business toppled after he led a sweat lodge ceremony in Arizona that left three people dead, has died. He was 67.

In a post on X, his family announced that Ray died “suddenly and unexpectedly” late last week but didn't specify the cause. Up until then, he co-hosted a podcast with his wife and shared advice via social media.

“His passion in life was always to make others’ lives better and more fulfilled,” Ray’s brother, Jon Ray, wrote. “I’m happy to say that he accomplished that thousands of times over.”

Stephanie Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County in Nevada where was Ray residing, said it had received a death report of a man matching Ray's name and age.

Ray's earlier business in which he taught people about spiritual and financial help was boosted by appearances in the 2006 Rhonda Byrne documentary “The Secret,” which he promoted on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “Larry King Live.”

The sweat lodge deaths occurred after dozens of people traveled to a scenic retreat just outside Sedona in October 2009 for Ray’s five-day “Spiritual Warrior” event. The sweat lodge was the culminating event, touted as “hellacious hot” and a chance for participants to have powerful breakthroughs.

Two people — 38-year-old Kirby Brown of Westtown, New York, and 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee — died inside the sweat lodge and 18 others were injured. Another person, Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, fell into a coma and died after more than a week in the hospital.

At trial, prosecutors said Ray ratcheted up the heat to dangerous levels, ignored pleas for help, and watched as overcome participants were dragged out of the sweat lodge.

A jury acquitted Ray of more serious manslaughter charges and convicted him of three counts of negligent homicide, for which he served concurrent sentences for the deaths. He was released in July 2013.

Ray had acknowledged that he was responsible for the deaths but offered no excuses for his lack of action as the chaos unfolded at the sweat lodge.

After leaving prison, Ray remained active in the self-help industry. He frequently posted videos on social media of himself and his wife, Bersabeh Ray, offering advice. The couple also hosted a podcast, Modern Alchemy, and maintained a website where Ray offered one-on-one video sessions up to 90 minutes for $2,500.

In the wake of Brown's death, her family established Seek Safely, an organization offering support for those who may be vulnerable to exploitation by the self-help industry. In a statement on the organization's website, Brown's sister, Jean, offered condolences and said Ray was just one of many operators “in a multi-billion dollar per year industry built on the exploitation of those who would improve their lives and find fulfillment.”

“We can only, at this juncture, remind seekers that no ‘guru,’ or program, or mindset is larger than life or without fault. That a journey of self-improvement is noble and vulnerable. That we must always remain in charge of that process of growth and change, rooted in our values, our worth, and our right to seek free from harm,” she wrote.

Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

FILE - Self-help guru James Arthur Ray stands in court on the first day of his criminal trial, March 1, 2011 in Camp Verde, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jack Kurtz, Pool, File)

FILE - Self-help guru James Arthur Ray stands in court on the first day of his criminal trial, March 1, 2011 in Camp Verde, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jack Kurtz, Pool, File)

FILE - James Arthur Ray stands with defense attorney Thomas Kelly, right, before his criminal trial, March 17, 2011 in Camp Verde, Ariz. (AP Photo/Tom Tingle, File)

FILE - James Arthur Ray stands with defense attorney Thomas Kelly, right, before his criminal trial, March 17, 2011 in Camp Verde, Ariz. (AP Photo/Tom Tingle, File)

FILE - James Arthur Ray listens to prosecuting attorneys speak during his criminal trial, March 8, 2011, in Camp Verde, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool, File)

FILE - James Arthur Ray listens to prosecuting attorneys speak during his criminal trial, March 8, 2011, in Camp Verde, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, Pool, File)

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PHOTO COLLECTION: Trump Tariffs

2025-04-03 15:54 Last Updated At:16:01

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Indian bikers Arup Pathak, right, Abbasuddin Ahmed, center, and Ripon Basak pose with their Harley Davidson motorbikes in Guwahati, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Indian bikers Arup Pathak, right, Abbasuddin Ahmed, center, and Ripon Basak pose with their Harley Davidson motorbikes in Guwahati, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Indian bikers Abbasuddin Ahmed, center, flanked by Ripon Basak, right, and Arup Pathak ride their Harley Davidson motorbikes in Guwahati, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Indian bikers Abbasuddin Ahmed, center, flanked by Ripon Basak, right, and Arup Pathak ride their Harley Davidson motorbikes in Guwahati, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

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Romesh Sapra, an architect, prepares to ride his Harley Davidson motorcycle near his house in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo)

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Employee Jonathon Cortez, left, helps a customer find metal screws at employee-owned Devon Hardware, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

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Employee Jonathon Cortez, left, helps a customer find metal screws at employee-owned Devon Hardware, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

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Beth McKee holds a sign as she stands over the highway near The Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

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Deborah Tatko has a photo taken with her signs as she stands with protesters gathered near The Peace Bridge border crossing in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

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Cranes and shipping containers are seen at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Cranes and shipping containers are seen at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Vehicles for export stand parked at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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Vehicles for export park at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Vehicles for export park at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A truck container drives past the Jakarta International container terminal at Tanjung Priok seaport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

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A truck container drives past the Jakarta International container terminal at Tanjung Priok seaport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

A truck container drives past the Jakarta International container terminal at Tanjung Priok seaport in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

A Cambodian garment worker buys cloth during a lunch break on a sidewalk at Ang Tako village outside Phnom Penh Cambodia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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Cambodian garment workers look at clothes displayed for sale during a lunch break on a sidewalk at Ang Tako village, outside Phnom Penh Cambodia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodian garment workers look at clothes displayed for sale during a lunch break on a sidewalk at Ang Tako village, outside Phnom Penh Cambodia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Cambodian garment workers join for lunch on a sidewalk at Ang Tako village outside Phnom Penh Cambodia, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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News of tariff hikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump is seen on a display screen on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

News of tariff hikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump is seen on a display screen on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

News of tariff hikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump is seen on a display screen on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

News of tariff hikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump is seen on a display screen on the facade of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building in Mumbai, India, Thursday, April 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Us President Donald Trump appears on a television screen at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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Containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Containers are stacked at the Port of Los Angeles Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., center, is joined from left by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., as they speak to reporters about President Donald Trump's tariffs on foreign countries, at the Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

From left, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speak to reporters about President Donald Trump's tariffs on foreign countries, at the Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

From left, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speak to reporters about President Donald Trump's tariffs on foreign countries, at the Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Members of congress and invited guests listen as President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Members of congress and invited guests listen as President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Retired autoworker Brian Pannebecker speaks as President Donald Trump listens during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Retired autoworker Brian Pannebecker speaks as President Donald Trump listens during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick holds a chart as President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick holds a chart as President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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