By the Numbers

Matt Bauer has been Holly's father since the day she was born in January 2019. He signed the VS-211 (Kansas Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity) on January 4, 2022, giving him full and equal legal parental rights under KSA 38-1130. He and Darah Jewell co-parented cooperatively for five years. In October 2024, after Matt removed Darah from a shared Google Calendar she was using to monitor his therapy appointments, she launched a sustained multi-front campaign involving a paternity lawsuit, ethics complaints, an insurance cancellation attempt, a DCF report, a HIPAA complaint, a small claims lawsuit, and repeated interference with Holly's therapeutic services.

Every complaint was either dismissed, found unsubstantiated, or resulted in no finding of wrongdoing. The damage, however, was real and ongoing.

Legal Foundation: The VS-211

The VS-211 is the Kansas Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity form. Matt and Darah signed it on January 4, 2022, amending Holly's birth certificate (Certificate No. 115-2019-00683) to add Matt as the legal father.

Under Kansas law (KSA 38-1130), a signed Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity has the same legal force as a court adjudication of paternity. It grants full and equal parenting rights from the date of filing. Matt has had full legal parental rights -- including the right to make medical decisions, access records, and enroll Holly in services -- for over four years.

The Triggering Event

The entire cascade of legal actions and complaints traces back to a single event.

Matt had shared his personal Google Calendar with Darah to coordinate parenting days. In September 2024, Darah texted Matt a screenshot of his calendar showing a parent coaching entry labeled "HB Assess." She wrote: "I have questions."

Matt clarified it was parent coaching for himself, not ABA for Holly. His wife Natasha sent a collaborative, respectful message:

"We're building our own village of support as we grow together as a family, so it's been important for us to have certain people and resources just for us, and I hope that makes sense. We truly appreciate how much you care. Holly is so lucky, and we're all a team for her." -- Natasha to Darah, September 2024

When Matt realized Darah was using the shared calendar to monitor his activities, he removed her access.

What Followed

In response to the removal of calendar access, Darah:

All of this was triggered by a father removing a co-parent's access to his personal Google Calendar.

The Polo Apology -- October 26, 2024

On the same day that custody papers were served, but before the papers arrived, Darah sent a lengthy video message via Marco Polo to both Matt and Natasha. She was crying throughout. The original screen recording exists as a ~945MB .mp4 file.

In this video, Darah demonstrated full self-awareness of her behavior. She apologized. She admitted to misrepresenting Matt. She admitted to explosive emotional patterns. She admitted her therapist's opinions about Matt were inappropriate.

In Her Own Words

"I just want to genuinely apologize because I did not realize that I was causing a negative thing for you. In that conversation that we had here, I felt so good after that because for me, that conversation overwrote a lot of things for me. And what I didn't realize, again, until you had told me about this was the fact that unfortunately it was at the expense of making you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. And that was never, ever my intent. And I'm so truly sorry." -- Darah to Matt and Natasha, October 26, 2024

"I never wanted to change your opinion about Matt or I never wanted to make you, Matt, feel like you're under the bus at all." -- Darah, October 26, 2024

"What you have seen in the past several weeks, you're correct. That is not me. That's not anybody I've ever been." -- Darah, October 26, 2024

"A common occurrence since we were together and that you would say you feel a certain way or not let on that you feel any kind of negative way. And then intense, sometimes explosive emotions come out of nowhere and blindside me." -- Darah, acknowledging explosive emotional patterns

The Therapist Admission

In a follow-up Polo message on February 4, 2025, Darah stated:

"I know there was another part of that where I was, I had said something really shitty about my therapist and her feeling on Matt. And correct, that is inappropriate for a therapist to have that sort of an opinion. And again, it was based on her own perception, feelings, experience, whatever." -- Darah, February 4, 2025

This is Darah admitting that Crystal Horsch -- the same therapist who filed ethics complaints against Natasha and others -- had "inappropriate" opinions about Matt that were "based on her own perception." This is the same person Darah used as a proxy to file formal complaints against three professionals.

Service Interference Events

Between October 2024 and February 2026, Darah made at least eight documented attempts to obstruct Matt's parental rights and Holly's services. Three resulted in temporary pauses of services that directly affected Holly's care.

Continued Interference (2025-2026)

Ethics Complaints via Crystal Horsch

On November 7, 2024, Crystal Horsch (MS, LCMFT) -- Darah's individual therapist -- filed complaint #25-BA-0143 with the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (KSBSRB). She also filed with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Who Was Targeted

1. Natasha Cvetnich (Bauer), BCBA -- Matt's wife
2. Dr. Treva Etsitty -- Licensed psychologist
3. Natalie Abbenhaus -- R&R Collaborative provider

The Proxy Pattern

Crystal Horsch had no firsthand knowledge of the facts alleged. She filed based solely on Darah's account, without independent verification. This allowed Darah to:

• Deploy professional-level allegations without filing them herself
• Leverage a licensed clinician's authority to lend weight to unverified claims
• Create a paper trail that appeared to come from a concerned colleague rather than an adversarial co-parent

Outcome

BACB: Natasha proactively self-reported. The board reviewed the matter and determined no ethical violation occurred.

KSBSRB: As of March 2026 -- more than 16 months after the complaint was filed -- no resolution. Natasha has been waiting with this cloud over her professional standing for over a year and a half, despite having already been cleared by the BACB.

DCF Investigation

In late February or early March 2025, a report was filed with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) alleging a bruise on Holly's leg from an incident dated December 28, 2024.

Key Facts

• The photo of the alleged bruise had no timestamp
• Matt was fully cooperative during the investigation
• Matt provided video evidence of Holly bumping her leg during normal play
• The investigation was unsubstantiated. No action was taken.

Small Claims

Darah sued R&R Collaborative Therapy Services -- her own daughter's therapy provider and her co-parent's wife's employer -- alleging the clinic provided ABA parent coaching to Matt without her consent.

Darah won a monetary judgment of approximately $2,665. However:

• The ruling was strictly limited to financial reimbursement
• The court made no findings of fraud, criminal misconduct, or insurance invalidity
• The suit was built entirely on the "legal stranger" narrative -- which was directly refuted by the VS-211
• Matt did not yet have the VS-211 in hand at the time of the hearing. Had he possessed it, the outcome would likely have been different.

The clinic director removed her own photos from the R&R website in response to the pressure from Darah's campaign. That is the kind of fear this generated.

Impact on Natasha Cvetnich

Natasha Cvetnich (Bauer) is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 10 years of professional experience. She holds no prior sanctions, violations, or disciplinary actions. Her background checks (APS, KDADS, and CPS) were all approved in October 2024.

She married Matt on July 1, 2024. For doing so, she became the target of a sustained professional harassment campaign.

The Fear

In January 2026, Natasha expressed fear that Darah could "ruin my career or break our family." Her anxiety centers on:

• Whether KSBSRB findings (still pending after 16+ months) could be weaponized
• Whether she can even pick up Holly from school without triggering another complaint
• The chilling effect on her willingness to participate in Holly's daily life

A stepmother afraid to pick up her stepdaughter from school because of what the biological mother might do with that information. That is the reality this campaign has created.

Natasha's Attempt at Cooperation

Before all of this, Natasha tried. On May 19, 2024, she sent Darah a thoughtful boundary-setting letter:

"When we were in the backyard talking on the patio, I wanted to be a listening ear... It's uncomfortable hearing about Matt in a negative light. I understand that you have some unresolved feelings and concerns about Matt, and I respect that. However, I need to let you know that I'm not the right person for you to share concerns about him with." -- Natasha to Darah, May 19, 2024

Setting a healthy boundary. That, along with Matt's marriage, appears to have been a precipitating factor in everything that followed.

The 2018 Recordings

Matt possesses original audio files and transcripts from recordings made in 2018 that document a pattern of physical violence with Holly present, substance use with denial, and suicidal ideation.

"Save This Meltdown"

"I'm not saying it's justified to hurt you. But you come between me and my own child. Of course I'm going to react." -- Darah, 2018 recording (physical violence with infant Holly in Matt's arms)

"Call Resolution"

In this recording, Darah admits to hitting Matt in the back of the head twice. She also admits to consuming three beers and three shots while simultaneously claiming she was not drinking.

Suicidal Ideation Pattern

Documented across multiple recordings spanning 2018-2021:

• "God, I feel crazy. It makes me not want to live." (2018)
• "I want nothing more than either her or to die" (2021)
• "Hold my breath forever" (2020)
• "Maybe it'd just be better if I'm dead" (2020)
• "If I just turn the steering wheel a little to the left" (2020)

September 2025 Home Recordings

In September 2025, home security cameras captured 34 recordings of Darah and Matt's mother Debra at Matt's home during September 8-11. Matt was not present. Holly was in the home for portions.

The cameras were visible, and Darah was aware of them. At one point she acknowledged: "Hi, Betty's watching right now."

What the Cameras Captured

Over approximately three hours, Darah and Matt's mother collaboratively built narratives about Matt that were demonstrably false:

• That Matt refused daycare -- contradicted by emails showing Matt was actively working with providers to integrate ABA with daycare
• That Matt uses "therapy as daycare" -- ABA is in-home by design and involves Matt's direct participation
• That Matt is financially irresponsible -- money Darah described as a "gift" was actually money owed to Matt
• That Matt doesn't communicate plans -- contradicted by documented emails and texts

The word "he" -- referring exclusively to Matt -- was used approximately 1,200 times across the three-hour period.

The most alarming statement came from Matt's own mother:

"I just wanna kick his ass." -- Debra (Matt's mother), after being primed by Darah's narrative, September 2025

This is triangulation. When someone spends three hours telling your mother a curated version of your life, and your mother ends up wanting to physically harm you, that is not organic family conflict. That is manufactured.

The Rebuttal

After discovering the September 2025 recordings, Matt created a point-by-point video response -- approximately 27,000 words -- addressing every false claim.

The Daycare Narrative

Darah's claim: Matt refused to allow Holly to attend daycare.

The truth: Matt was actively working with Alex (an ABA provider) to determine how ABA could fit within a daycare schedule. He produced an email from Alex to Darah that Darah never responded to.

"Therapy as Daycare"

"No, I am absolutely not using therapy as daycare. Some days I get a little break. I've got my weekly call with a person who's really helping me to reshape my business... Other than that, I'm in therapy. I am or in therapy with her... If I were using it as daycare, I'd be out going to the bank doing whatever it is people do when they have free time during the day." -- Matt Bauer, "Bullshit Response" rebuttal

The Core Issue

"Have these kinds of conversations with me in the room. Be at least that respectful... You have no idea what I'm thinking, feeling, doing. And if your response to that is, well, you don't tell us -- you don't get to assume these things." -- Matt Bauer

Holly's Wellbeing

Holly Bauer (DOB January 7, 2019) has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Level 2, with Language Impairments. She is a Gestalt Language Processor (GLP).

Holly receives ABA services, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. Matt actively tracks her dysregulation patterns using data and advocates in her IEP meetings.

Matt's parent coaching through R&R was a proactive measure to improve his parenting skills in supporting Holly. It was not ABA for Holly and did not involve Holly's clinical care. This is the service Darah tried to stop.

Documented Patterns of Behavior

The following behavioral patterns are documented across multiple sources, recordings, and events spanning 2018 through 2026.

• System Weaponization Using institutional and bureaucratic systems as weapons. Rather than addressing concerns directly, complaints are routed through formal channels designed for genuine misconduct: KSBSRB, BACB, DCF, HIPAA, UnitedHealthcare, and small claims court. Each system requires the target to expend significant time, money, and emotional resources to respond -- even when the complaint is meritless.
• Triangulation Systematically recruiting third parties to her perspective, creating alliances that isolate Matt. Targets have included Matt's own mother (resulting in "I wanna kick his ass"), his stepmother, Holly's therapists, school staff, and licensed professionals who file complaints on her behalf.
• Proxy Warfare Complaints and allegations are not filed directly. They are routed through proxies: Crystal Horsch filed the ethics complaints. The DCF report was filed by an unidentified reporter. Sara Zafar sent the false custody letter. This allows the appearance of non-involvement while directing the campaign.
• Narrative Control Through Selective Disclosure Negative information about Matt is shared selectively, omitting context that would change the interpretation. Told his mother he refused daycare (omitted the email she never responded to). Told others he doesn't communicate (omitted documented emails and texts). Claimed he "begged" for money (the money was owed to him).
• Retaliatory Timing Major escalations consistently follow events that threaten Darah's sense of control: calendar removal preceded the paternity filing. Subpoena issuance preceded the DCF report. Boundary-setting letters preceded the legal action.
• Service Sabotage and Gatekeeping Systematic attempts to position herself as the sole gatekeeper of Holly's services: insurance cancellation, demands to stop parent coaching, refusal to add Matt as auxiliary contact, HIPAA complaint, pharmacy changes without consultation.
• The Amygdala Trigger A consistent pattern: when Darah suspects deception, exclusion, or that control is slipping, she escalates to a disproportionate, multi-front response. Calendar discovery led to legal action. Marriage license discovery led to IEP confrontation. The trigger is always the same: suspected deception or exclusion. The response is always disproportionate.

The Cooperative Era: In Her Own Words

This section proves the conflict was manufactured, not inherent. The following are Darah's own messages, verbatim, sent to Matt and Natasha during the cooperative co-parenting period.

Messages Sent DURING the Legal Conflict

These messages are particularly significant because they were sent after Darah had already initiated the legal campaign.

Before & After

The only thing that changed: Matt removed Darah from a shared Google Calendar.

Evidence Inventory

The following evidence exists in original form and is available for review by any interested party, legal counsel, or court.

Audio & Video Recordings

Legal Documents

Written Correspondence

Institutional Records