Wisconsin man, New York woman identified as victims in Arizona sweat lodge deaths

Victims in Ariz. sweat lodge deaths identified

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — Arizona authorities have identified the two people who died after sitting in an Arizona resort’s sauna-like sweat lodge as a 40-year-old Wisconsin man and a 38-year-old New York woman.

James Shore of Milwaukee and Kirby Brown of Westtown, N.Y. died on Thursday night after being overcome in a sweat lodge during a spiritual cleansing ceremony. Nineteen others were taken to area hospitals, but most were soon released. One remained in critical condition late Friday.

Authorities haven’t determined the cause of the deaths and illnesses. The incident happened at the Angel Valley Retreat Center just outside scenic Sedona.

Self-help expert and author James Arthur Ray rented the facility as part of a “Spiritual Warrior” retreat that promised to “absolutely change your life.”