Natalia Grace’s former adoptive parents once accused her of being a dangerous “con artist” who posed a threat to their family.
It’s been six years since the public first became captivated by Natalia’s unusual and highly debated story.
In September 2019, her adoptive parents — Michael Barnett and Kristine Barnett — were charged with multiple counts of neglect of a dependent. The Indiana couple had adopted Natalia from Ukraine in 2010, believing she was a young child. In 2013, they placed her in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and moved to Canada with their three sons. Natalia, who has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism, was left behind.
After the charges were filed, the Barnetts publicly claimed that Natalia was not a child at all but an adult pretending to be one. In 2012, they successfully petitioned a court to change her birth year from 2003 to 1989 — legally re-aging her from 8 to 22. Michael later suggested she may have been even older.
The couple further alleged that Natalia displayed violent behavior during the two years she lived with them, accusing her of attempting to poison Kristine, harm family members, and make threats against their children. These claims were revisited in the 2023 Investigation Discovery docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.
Natalia has consistently denied those accusations. In January 2024, she shared her side in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, insisting she was a child at the time of her adoption and rejecting claims that she intended harm.
Who Is Natalia Grace?
Natalia is a Ukrainian-born orphan who arrived in the United States in 2008. After living with multiple foster families, she was adopted by the Barnetts in 2010. Soon after, questions about her age arose, leading to the controversial legal age change in 2012.
Her case gained national attention in 2019 when prosecutors charged the Barnetts with neglect. Although the couple maintained that Natalia was an adult masquerading as a child, Natalia has repeatedly stated that she was a minor when adopted.
Where Is She Now?
Since 2013, Natalia had been living with Indiana residents Cynthia and Antwon Mans, who welcomed her into their home shortly after meeting her. Though a court ruled Natalia was legally an adult — preventing them from becoming her guardians at the time — she continued residing with the family for years.
In 2023, the Mans formally adopted her. However, a dramatic twist emerged at the end of Natalia Speaks when Antwon expressed concerns about their relationship, suggesting tensions behind the scenes.
As of January 2025, Natalia has shared that she is preparing for independent life. She’s studying for her GED, learning to drive, and hopes to become a teacher someday. She has also expressed a desire to build a family of her own. Currently, she lives with the DePaul family, longtime supporters who had previously attempted to adopt her.
What Happened to the Barnetts?
After relocating to Canada in 2013 to support their son Jacob’s academic pursuits, Michael later returned to Indiana and filed for divorce in 2014. The couple finalized their divorce in 2018.
Michael was acquitted of neglect charges in October 2022, and charges against Kristine were dismissed in March 2023.
How Old Is Natalia Now?
The question of Natalia’s age remains central to the controversy. While her legally amended birth year of 1989 would make her 35, medical testing conducted in 2023 suggested she was approximately 22 at that time — aligning more closely with her original 2003 birth year. Natalia has said the results reaffirm her longstanding claim that she was a child when adopted.
Today, Natalia says she’s focused on moving forward — determined to build stability, independence, and a future on her own terms.
