ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN)  -- Four people in two states have been arrested as part of an investigation into the Final Exit Network, an organization that police believe helped a Georgia man end his life in June, authorities said Thursday.



Claire Blehr, 76, of Georgia, and Thomas E. Goodwin, 63, of Florida and Georgia, were two of the four arrested.



John Celmer, 58, lived in Cumming, north of Atlanta. Cumming police, the Forsyth County coroner and the man's relatives all had suspicions that his death was an assisted suicide, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation  launched an investigation, the agency said in a news release.



The GBI on Wednesday set up a sting operation at a residence in adjoining Dawson County, using an undercover agent who had posed as a terminally ill man seeking assistance with his suicide, the statement said.



Claire Blehr, 76, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Thomas E. Goodwin, 63, of both Punta Gorda, Florida, and Kennesaw, Georgia, were arrested, the GBI said.



Meanwhile, authorities in Baltimore, Maryland, arrested Dr. Lawrence D. Egbert, 81, of Baltimore in connection with the investigation. A second person, Nicholas Alec Sheridan, 60, also of Baltimore, was arrested Wednesday night, GBI spokesman John Bankhead said Thursday.



All four face charges of assisted suicide, tampering with evidence and violation of the Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the GBI said.



The Final Exit Network, based in the north Atlanta suburb of Marietta, identifies itself on its Web site as "an all-volunteer organization dedicated to serving people who are suffering from an intolerable condition. Network volunteers offer you counseling, support and even guidance to self-deliverance at a time and place of your choosing, but you always do the choosing. We will never encourage you to hasten your death."



Celmer suffered from "very, very severe mouth and throat cancer," his 85-year-old mother, Betty Celmer, said from her home in the Buffalo, New York, suburb of East Amherst.



"They were rebuilding the whole mouth," she said. "He was suffering terribly, that I know."



She said her son had undergone numerous surgeries and "sounded depressed." When he died, she said she had no idea his death might have been a suicide.



In a statement released by the GBI, Celmer's widow, Susan, said that she and her family "are gratified that the GBI and other law enforcement agencies have pursued this matter vigorously and that their investigation has led to the arrests reported today." She said she will not comment further and requested privacy, referring future questions to her attorneys.



An e-mail to Jerry Dincin, a man listed as Final Exit Network's vice president and treasurer on its Web site, was not answered Thursday. A call to Final Exit was answered by a recording.



The method used in the suicide was helium inhalation, according to the GBI statement.



People pay $50 to join the Final Exit Network, according to the GBI, and complete an application process. They are then visited by an "exit guide" assigned to the case.



"During the visitations, the member is instructed to purchase two helium tanks of a specific size and brand and a specific type of hood known as an 'exit bag,' " according to the GBI statement. "On the day of the event, the member is visited by the 'exit guide' and a 'senior exit guide.' The senior exit guide instructs the member through the process."



Goodwin and Blehr were told the GBI agent suffered from pancreatic cancer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.



At the Dawson County residence on Wednesday, Goodwin allegedly walked the undercover agent through the steps and demonstrated how he would hold the agent's hands to stop him from removing the exit bag, Bankhead said.



The GBI said that after the death occurs, "all evidence is removed from the scene by the 'guides' and discarded, as evidence indicated
ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Four people in two states have been arrested as part of an investigation into the Final Exit Network , an organization that police believe helped a Georgia man end his life in June , authorities said Thursday . Claire Blehr , 76 , of Georgia , and Thomas E. Goodwin , 63 , of Florida and Georgia , were two of the four arrested . John Celmer , 58 , lived in Cumming , north of Atlanta . Cumming police , the Forsyth County coroner and the man 's relatives all had suspicions that his death was an assisted suicide , and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation , the agency said in a news release . The GBI on Wednesday set up a sting operation at a residence in adjoining Dawson County , using an undercover agent who had posed as a terminally ill man seeking assistance with his suicide , the statement said . Claire Blehr , 76 , of Atlanta , Georgia , and Thomas E. Goodwin , 63 , of both Punta Gorda , Florida , and Kennesaw , Georgia , were arrested , the GBI said . Meanwhile , authorities in Baltimore , Maryland , arrested Dr. Lawrence D. Egbert , 81 , of Baltimore in connection with the investigation . A second person , Nicholas Alec Sheridan , 60 , also of Baltimore , was arrested Wednesday night , GBI spokesman John Bankhead said Thursday . All four face charges of assisted suicide , tampering with evidence and violation of the Georgia 's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act , the GBI said . The Final Exit Network , based in the north Atlanta suburb of Marietta , identifies itself on its Web site as " an all - volunteer organization dedicated to serving people who are suffering from an intolerable condition . Network volunteers offer you counseling , support and even guidance to self - deliverance at a time and place of your choosing , but you always do the choosing . We will never encourage you to hasten your death . " Celmer suffered from " very , very severe mouth and throat cancer , " his 85-year - old mother , Betty Celmer , said from her home in the Buffalo , New York , suburb of East Amherst . " They were rebuilding the whole mouth , " she said . " He was suffering terribly , that I know . " She said her son had undergone numerous surgeries and " sounded depressed . " When he died , she said she had no idea his death might have been a suicide . In a statement released by the GBI , Celmer 's widow , Susan , said that she and her family " are gratified that the GBI and other law enforcement agencies have pursued this matter vigorously and that their investigation has led to the arrests reported today . " She said she will not comment further and requested privacy , referring future questions to her attorneys . An e - mail to Jerry Dincin , a man listed as Final Exit Network 's vice president and treasurer on its Web site , was not answered Thursday . A call to Final Exit was answered by a recording . The method used in the suicide was helium inhalation , according to the GBI statement . People pay $ 50 to join the Final Exit Network , according to the GBI , and complete an application process . They are then visited by an " exit guide " assigned to the case . " During the visitations , the member is instructed to purchase two helium tanks of a specific size and brand and a specific type of hood known as an ' exit bag , ' " according to the GBI statement . " On the day of the event , the member is visited by the ' exit guide ' and a ' senior exit guide . ' The senior exit guide instructs the member through the process . " Goodwin and Blehr were told the GBI agent suffered from pancreatic cancer , The Atlanta Journal - Constitution reported . At the Dawson County residence on Wednesday , Goodwin allegedly walked the undercover agent through the steps and demonstrated how he would hold the agent 's hands to stop him from removing the exit bag , Bankhead said . The GBI said that after the death occurs , " all evidence is removed from the scene by the ' guides ' and discarded , as evidence indicated
What did the volunteers offer?
What did the volunteers offer ?
counseling, support and even guidance to self-deliverance
counseling, support and even guidance to self-deliverance