Arizona: Self-Help Expert Contests Police Statements

A spokesman for James Arthur Ray, the self-help expert who was leading a sweat lodge ceremony in Sedona when two people died and three others were critically injured on Thursday, is contesting statements by the police that the lodge was built by Mr. Ray’s staff. The spokesman, Howard Bragman, said Mr. Ray’s contract with the Angel Valley spiritual retreat called for Angel Valley to "design and construct" the sweat lodge. Dwight D’Evelyn, a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said the office stood by its contention that members of Mr. Ray’s staff built the sweat lodge. Angel Valley’s owners declined to comment on the contract. Mr. Bragman also contested earlier police statements that Mr. Ray had left the area Thursday evening. He said Mr. Ray left Sedona on Friday. Mr. D’Evelyn said Mr. Ray was at Angel Valley as late as 10 p.m. Thursday when detectives began their investigation. Mr. Ray declined to give a statement to detectives on the case, the police said.