Self-Help Guru Indicted in 3 Deaths at Arizona Sweat Lodge

James A. Ray, president of James Ray International, a multimillion-dollar company in Carlsbad, Calif., that promises followers a path to “harmonic wealth in all areas of your life,” was arrested at a law office in Prescott, Ariz., not far from the Sedona retreat where the fatal Oct. 8 ceremony was held. He was jailed in lieu of $5 million bond, said a statement by Sheriff Steve Waugh of Yavapai County.

Sheriff Waugh said he “hopes the families of the three victims will now have some measure of closure to this tragedy.” He declined to be interviewed.

The victims, Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., were overcome in the two-hour “spiritual warrior” ceremony, in which hot rocks were placed inside a tent so the 55 participants could sweat out whatever was ailing their souls. Twenty others suffered heat-related injuries.

Participants have said Mr. Ray ignored signs that people were falling into distress in the pitch-dark tent and said things like “it’s a good day to die” in his zeal to keep the ceremony going. Several lawsuits have alleged negligence and fraud.