James Arthur Ray

James Arthur Ray
Ray in 2017
Born (1957-11-22) November 22, 1957 (age 66)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation
  • Author, businessman, self-help coach
Years activeEarly 1990s–present
Criminal statusReleased on supervision; sentence served at Arizona State Prison Complex - Phoenix
Conviction(s)Negligent homicide (3 counts)
Criminal penalty2 years imprisonment

James Arthur Ray (born November 22, 1957) is an American self-help businessman, motivational speaker, author and convicted felon who was found guilty in 2011 of causing three deaths through negligent homicide.

A former telemarketer,[1] Ray taught Stephen Covey motivational seminars while employed at AT&T and claimed he later worked two years for the Covey foundation;[2] however the company has no record of him as an employee or contractor.[3] In 2006 he appeared on CNN's Larry King Live[4] and was one of several narrators in the film The Secret. He also appeared on the Today Show and Oprah.[5][6]

In October 2009, three participants died while taking part in a ritual, led by Ray, at one of his New Age retreats. Ray was arrested in 2010,[7] and in 2011 convicted of three counts of negligent homicide.[8][9] He served two years in Arizona state prison and was released under supervision on July 12, 2013.[10][11] Following his release, Ray re-launched his self-help business.[1]

  1. ^ a b Stroud, Matt (2013-12-04). "The Death Dealer". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  2. ^ Siklos, Richard (2008-04-08). "The man who would be Robbins, Covey, and Chopra". CNN. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  3. ^ Ortega, Bob. "Sweat-lodge trial: James Arthur Ray often misused teachings, critics say" Archived 2014-10-17 at the Wayback Machine, The Arizona Republic, 10 April 2011. accessed 13 April 2011.
  4. ^ "Transcripts". CNN. 2006-11-16. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  5. ^ Dougherty, John; Roth, Gregory (11 October 2009). "Questions About 'Sweat Lodge' Rite Where 2 Died". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Hudson, John (2011-06-23). "The People Who Bought James Arthur Ray's Shtick". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  7. ^ Fonseca, Felicia. "Motivational speaker charged in sweat lodge deaths"[dead link], Associated Press, ABC News, 4 February 2010.
  8. ^ "James Arthur Ray trial: State's witness was in close contact with one victim" Archived 2011-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, Daily Courier (Prescott, Arizona), 4 March 2011.
  9. ^ Riccardi, Nicholas (June 22, 2011). "Self-help guru convicted in Arizona sweat lodge deaths". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ Duncan, Mark (2011-12-06). "Ray to appeal homicide conviction". Daily Courier, Arizona.
  11. ^ "Information for Inmate 267823 Ray". Arizona Department of Corrections. 2013-07-12. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2013-07-13.