Kim expressed her longing for a fatherly presence, which led her to intern for Baer. She sought comfort when embraced by him, hoping to overcome her fears. It began with her taking off her top and bra, as instructed by Baer, who held her without touching her inappropriately. Kim described the experience as both special and parental.
Reflecting now, Kim sees the situation as classic grooming behavior. The episode repeated later under similar circumstances. When she sought further transformation, Baer guided her to remove her clothes progressively. He lay beside her, offering soothing gestures. Kim realized in hindsight that she felt powerless to refuse, fearing potential rejection if she did.
A turning point came when Kim’s daughter, Penelope, called her. This prompted Kim to question her relationship with Baer and the community. She shared experiences with other women, uncovering more stories of inappropriate ‘naked holding’ events.
“I just cried,” Inge recalled during her initial encounter. “It was such a relief to feel safe and loved.” As a Real Love member, Inge participated in retreats where she also experienced these events. She recounted feeling a large impact on her life but was unsettled when Baer fondled her despite her objections.
Baer’s assurances of confidentiality kept Inge silent, fearing community disruption. She, like Kim, never imagined younger women could also be involved without consent. Kim eventually confronted Baer through email, condemning his actions towards her daughter and demanding a cessation of inappropriate holding practices.
In his reply, Baer denied the allegations, stating Kim’s daughter was fabricating events. Despite receiving multiple emails criticizing his actions, Baer consistently denied wrongdoing, asserting his mission aimed at healing.
Police investigations in Baer’s hometown didn’t proceed due to lack of evidence. Reports against Baer were also made to Mormon churches, initiating ecclesiastical proceedings, whose outcomes remain undisclosed.
Veena, along with Penelope, filed lawsuits against Baer, which were settled out of court. Veena adjusted to life after leaving the Real Love community and refocused her academic pursuits, studying psychology to understand her past experiences.
Her memoir, “The True Happiness Company,” details her journey within Real Love. Veena intended for the book to serve as therapy and caution others about undue influence and psychological manipulation, noting how subtle changes can lead to extreme consequences over time.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact services like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for support.