The Real Love Company made her feel whole. Then ‘Daddy’ said to strip naked.

Key Points:

• Veena, a young woman from Severna Park, became involved with a group called Real Love after struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts following a series of student suicides in her hometown; she was drawn in by the group's leader, Greg Baer, who promised to teach her how to be happy through unconditional love.
• Under Baer's influence, Veena's life changed drastically: she dropped out of college, abandoned her career aspirations, married, had children, and became deeply involved in the Real Love community, which included practices such as group retreats and "interventions" involving physical closeness and nudity.
• Former members and experts describe Real Love as exhibiting cult-like behaviors, including Baer positioning himself as a father figure, demanding unquestioning loyalty, and using "naked holding" sessions that escalated to sexual abuse allegations.
• Several women, including Veena and another member named Penelope, have accused Baer of sexual misconduct during these sessions, leading to police investigations that found insufficient evidence for criminal charges and church disciplinary proceedings within the Mormon community.
• Veena and Penelope settled lawsuits against Baer and have since spoken out about their experiences; Veena authored a book detailing her journey and warning others about the dangers of such manipulative groups.