An Examination of an Unusual and Troubling Legal Conflict Surrounding Adopted Child Natalia Grace, which garnered widespread media coverage over multiple years, is presented by Good American Family.
Originating from Ukraine, she had a type of dwarfism and lived in an orphanage during her initial years. Later on, she was taken into the caring home of Americans, Kristine and Michael Barnett, in the United States through adoption.
The bond between the girl and her adopted parents deteriorated rapidly, as accusations were traded back and forth between them, such as the Barnetts asserting that Natalia had falsified her age information.
As a devoted cinephile, I’m particularly intrigued by the captivating narrative unfolding in “Good American Family.” In this production, Ellen Pompeo, renowned for her role in Grey’s Anatomy, graces our screens as one of the Barnetts. Similarly, The Morning Show’s Mark Duplass lends his talent to the Barnett family as well. However, stealing the spotlight is a newcomer, Imogen Faith Reid, who breathes life into the character of Natalia.
Continue below for a summary of the real-life tale behind Good American Family, and uncover the fate of Natalia Grace and her adoptive couple, Kristine and Michael.
Good American Family true story inspiration
News outlets worldwide highlighted the case of Natalia Grace following allegations by her adoptive parents, Kristine and Michael Barnett, that she had falsified her age and posed a risk to their wellbeing.
In the spring of 2010, the couple took Natalia into their care, a girl who had been returned to the adoption agency by another American family earlier. They thought she was around seven years old at that time.
Yet, just two years subsequent, it was claimed that she had concealed her age by utilizing her dwarfism; this allegation led to a successful court petition in Marion County, Indiana, resulting in the alteration of her birth year from 2003 to 1989 by the court.
This extreme measure was initiated due to escalating issues at the Barnett household. Specifically, Kristine alleged that Natalia posed a threat by suggesting she would stab the Barnett family while they slept, tampering with Kristine’s coffee with harmful substances, and even attempting to shove her near an electric fence (as reported by Daily Mail).
Natalia firmly asserts that she has not attempted to cause injury or death to any individual from the Barnett family, according to People’s report.
The Barnetts considered that some physical traits of Natalia hinted at her possibly being older than their initial assumptions suggested.
Following the court’s decision that declared Natalia as a legal adult, her adoptive parents arranged for her to move into an independent apartment within a U.S. state, prior to them migrating to Canada.
For approximately a year, the previous tenants, who had already covered a year’s worth of rent, left non-perishable food in the apartment that Natalia inhabited. Later on, it was Natalia who informed the police that she had been deserted by her guardians.
In March 2023, Michael was acquitted, while charges against Kristine for neglecting their dependent were dismissed. This decision was made considering Natalia’s disability, rather than her age.
Was Natalia Grace lying about her age?
Indeed, it’s confirmed that Natalia Grace had already been a child when she was adopted, as indicated by a DNA test conducted in August 2023.
The findings from TruDiagnostic’s medical lab became public knowledge, featured on the Discovery documentary series The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, in January.
According to the research, it was determined that Natalia was 22 years old in August 2023. This implies that she was just nine years old when Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted her, as reported by People.
What happened to Natalia Grace?
Following a separation from the Barnett family, Natalia Grace was placed under the guardianship of two different adoptive families.
To begin with, she resided under the same roof as Antwon and Cynthia Mans, a couple who managed a home shared by multiple kids. The setup seemed promising and fruitful at first.
2019 saw Natalia join The Mans on a segment of the American talk show Dr. Phil. During this appearance, they publicly affirmed that she had never been a danger to their family, as reported by BBC News.
In January 2025, the last season of the docuseries titled “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” spotlighted allegations of controlling and abusive actions against Natalia, primarily by the Mans.
The allegations were solely made by individuals who said they were eyewitnesses, not from Natalia herself who chose not to respond about the situation. The Mans have refuted these claims, with Cynthia referring to them as “vile, distorted fabrications” and stating: “It’s infuriating that people will merely say whatever they want to satisfy their objectives. It’s absurd.
At the beginning of the current year, it became known that Natalia had departed from her family and now resides with the DePauls. The DePauls found her in secret and brought her home, which was near the Mans family’s church. This arrangement was carefully planned and executed in private.
The departure was recorded as part of The Curious Case of Natalie Grace. See below:
What happened to Kristine and Michael Barnett?
Kristine and Michael Barnett divorced in 2014.
Since then, Michael has featured in Natalia’s documentary series, participating in a one-on-one conversation during one episode that unfortunately got cut short prematurely.
During the brief interaction, Michael characterized Kristine as a “beast,” which was partly a reaction to Natalia’s claim that Kristine had physically harmed her.
Kristine denied any abuse in an extended Facebook post.
Initially, I’d like to clarify: “Natalia held a special place in our hearts as a cherished family member. No one in my family ever harmed her physically. Now, let me address these accusations directly. There was never an instance where Natalia was struck with a belt and the claims that she was ‘beaten’ are completely unfounded.
“Natalia’s upbringing was quite modest, falling within typical parental practices. It may even have been too lenient, given the empathy and affection we all had for her during her stay with us.
The conclusion states: “Michael Barnett and Natalia Barnett might share a similar ‘monster,’ but that ‘monster’ is not who I am. This ‘monster,’ whether it’s mental illness, psychopathy, or something else, may manifest differently in each of them. However, it originates from their unique minds.
Michael and Natalia’s reunion can be seen here:
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2025-02-21 19:05