3 suspects held in slaying of popular tantra yoga teacher

Steve Carter was a well-known tantra yoga teacher. Students credited him with improving their romantic relationships by teaching tantra, a philosophy of meditation, yoga and sexuality famously embraced by rock star Sting.

Several days ago, Carter, 67, went on a hike at a Marin County scenic trail with his dog.

His body was found some time later.

Three drifters — two men and a woman — were arrested in Portland, Ore., outside a community dining hall and were in possession of Carter’s car, Marin County sheriff’s Lt. Doug Pittman said.

Pittman said the trio was tracked to Oregon — more than 600 miles north — by detectives using GPS technology in the victim’s car and hundreds of tips from people who thought the suspects looked suspicious.

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Authorities were also aided by surveillance footage from a gas station in Point Reyes that showed the suspects with the stolen car about a half-hour after the slaying, Pittman said.

“So many people are in possession of cameras in cars, homes, businesses,” he said. “Those types of systems became crucial to the pursuit and apprehension.”

Mark Reano, owner of Greenbridge Gas & Auto in Point Reyes, said authorities came to the station early Wednesday for the video.

“They grabbed it and went,” said Reano, who said he did not see the suspects.

Authorities have not provided a motive for the attack and said it did not appear the suspects knew the victim. Pittman said it was unclear whether Carter was targeted for his car or other belongings.

Marin County sheriff’s Capt. Dave Augustus described the suspects as drifters. Their names were not immediately released.

“We’re not even sure who these people are right now,” Pittman said.

Authorities believe Carter drove to the trail near Fairfax in his 2003 Volkswagen that was missing after the attack.

Stunned students and supporters mourned their beloved teacher who was shot multiple times and was still holding the leash of his wounded Doberman Pinscher when he was found. The dog is expected to recover.

Carter and his wife, Lokita, launched the Ecstatic Living Institute in rural Middletown about 16 years ago to teach tantra to couples around the world. They held workshops nearby at the clothing-optional Harbin Hot Springs, which was destroyed last month in a wildfire.

“He was my mentor,” said Greg Whitmore, 37, a firefighter who attended several week-long retreats led by the Carters. “It was intoxicating. People wanted to be around him.”

Last year, the couple turned the institute over to a former student, Logan Rose, and moved to Costa Rica in semi-retirement, teaching an occasional class. But soon after moving, Lokita was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“It has been a very traumatic season for us with Lokita’s cancer, then the Valley Fire that destroyed our beloved Harbin Hot Springs,” Rose said.

“This is the most devastating blow,” Rose said of the homicide. “We are heartbroken.”

Lokita Carter didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Joya Petra Gallasch said Steve Carter was responsible for leading her to adopt the new first name of Joya during a training session at Harbin Hot Springs. Gallasch said she was depressed at the time.

“I’ve always been a super joyous person,” Gallasch said. “He knew intuitively that it was time to get a new name. He exuded a form of brilliance.”

A hiker found Carter’s body less than an hour after deputies responded to a report of shots fired but didn’t see anything suspicious.

Carter’s brother, Michael Carter, said he knew of no one who disliked his brother.

“I can’t imagine that it’s anything other than a random thing,” he told the San Francisco Chronicle. “All of it seems very random and unbelievable. Nothing makes any sense.”

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