Despite allegations of violent and sociopathic behavior from her early adoptive parents, the Barnetts, Natalia, and her new family, the DePauls, have denied these claims.
Highlights
- Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was adopted by the Barnetts in 2010. They later claimed she was an adult posing as a child and abandoned her in 2013. DNA evidence in 2024 confirmed she was a child at the time of adoption.
- The Barnetts accused Natalia of being a sociopath with harmful intentions. However, Natalia and her current family have vehemently denied these claims.
- Natalia now lives with the DePauls, a family of little people, in upstate New York, where she is rebuilding her life, pursuing education, and receiving therapy.
- Natalia and her family have criticized Hulu’s “Good American Family” series, calling for a boycott due to its portrayal of Natalia and the lack of compensation for her story.
Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian-born orphan with a rare form of dwarfism, has become the focal point of a revived media scrutiny following the release of Hulu’s new series “Good American Family,” which dramatizes her complex adoption story.
The series has reignited debates surrounding her age, identity, and the allegations made by her former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, who accused her of being a sociopath masquerading as a child.
First trailer for ‘GOOD AMERICAN FAMILY’, starring Ellen Pompeo.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 19, 2025
The series follows the true story of a couple who think they’ve adopted a little girl with dwarfism but soon start to believe she may not be who she said she was
Releasing March 19 on Hulu. pic.twitter.com/YnAcCpdIWF
The Adoption And Subsequent Allegations
In 2010, Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia, believing she was a six-year-old child.
However, they later claimed that Natalia was, in fact, an adult woman posing as a child, alleging that she exhibited threatening behaviors and had intentions to harm their family.
These accusations led them to petition an Indiana court to legally change her age from eight to 22 in 2012 (changing her birth year from 2003 to 1989), a request that was granted.
Following this legal adjustment, the Barnetts relocated to Canada in July 2013, leaving Natalia behind in an Indiana apartment.
A 45-year-old woman named Kristine Barnett adopted a 6-year-old Ukrainian girl in 2010 but, in 2019 was charged with abandoning her daughter in Indiana and fleeing to Canada in 2013.
— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) November 3, 2023
The woman claims her 'daughter' was found to be a 22-year-old sociopath with dwarfism who was… pic.twitter.com/VzaDRg56CT
Legal Proceedings And DNA Evidence
The abandonment led to legal action against the Barnetts in September 2019, with charges of neglect of a dependent.
Both Michael and Kristine Barnett pleaded not guilty, maintaining their stance that Natalia was an adult engaging in deceptive behaviors. The court order to change Natalia’s date of birth helped them with that argument.
Michael Barnett went to trial in October 2022 and was acquitted of all charges. The court found insufficient evidence to prove neglect beyond a reasonable doubt.
Kristine Barnett’s trial was initially scheduled for April 2023, but the charges against her were dismissed in March 2023. The dismissal was based on the same reasoning.
The case took a significant turn in January 2024 when a DNA test conducted by TruDiagnostic revealed that Natalia was approximately 22 years old at that time, suggesting she was around nine years old at the time of her adoption in 2010.
This evidence contradicted the Barnetts’ claims and supported Natalia’s assertion that she was a child during the adoption.
Allegations Of Natalia Being A Sociopath Were Unsubstantiated
The Barnetts accused Natalia of being a sociopath, alleging she attempted to poison Kristine, smeared bodily fluids on walls, and made death threats.
Michael Barnett described her as a “sociopath” and a “con artist.”
Dr. Timothy Gossweiler recalls Kristine Barnett bringing Natalia Grace into his office in 2011. Kristine wanted to determine Natalia’s age and after looking over the x-rays, it was determined she was in fact a child with several baby teeth remaining, disputing she was an adult.… pic.twitter.com/PbA69aP6Kt
— Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) January 19, 2024
Natalia has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that she was a child at the time and that the accusations were unfounded.
Psychological evaluations and expert testimonies presented during the legal proceedings did not substantiate the Barnetts’ claims of sociopathic behavior.
Especially in light of the DNA evidence proving her innocence, many have shifted their blame to the Barnetts, alleging mistreatment and manipulation of Natalia, the media, and the legal system.
Natalia Grace’s Confirmed Biological Mother Expresses Intention To Reunite
Natalia Grace’s biological mother, Anna Volodymyrivna Gava, was located and confirmed through a DNA test as part of a legal investigation.
Anna Gava, who is from Ukraine, revealed that she had given Natalia up for adoption shortly after her birth due to financial and medical challenges.
Gava, born on April 20, 1979, in Latvia, said in an interview,
Daughter, forgive me for what happened 16 years ago. Visit soon for me to see you. We are waiting for you. You have two sisters and two brothers.
intouchweekly.com
Despite Gava’s heartfelt plea, Natalia has expressed reluctance to reconnect, acknowledging the emotional complexity of the situation.
She remarked,
I get it, you probably do wanna see me and everything like that, but I have a family here. I have my parents who raised me. It’s different with Anna because she only gave birth to me, but she let me go pretty much that same day.
intouchweekly.com
Natalia’s Current Family, The DePauls, Have Condemned The Hulu Series
The case has been the subject of multiple media portrayals, including the Investigation Discovery docuseries “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” which delved into various perspectives surrounding the controversy.
The recent Hulu series “Good American Family,” starring Ellen Pompeo as Kristine Barnett, offers a dramatized account of the events, exploring themes of identity, family dynamics, and the complexities inherent in the case.
🚨| Ellen Pompeo and the cast of Good American Family. 🤍 pic.twitter.com/ERtzoMGpD3
— Central Ellen Pompeo (@centralep_) March 14, 2025
However, Natalia’s current family, the DePauls in upstate New York, has criticized the series, calling for a boycott due to concerns over its portrayal and the lack of compensation for Natalia.
They argue that the dramatization is insensitive and does not accurately represent Natalia’s experiences.
Natalia Was Taken In By The Manses Following Her Abandonment By The Barnetts In 2013
In 2013, after the Barnetts left for Canada, Natalia was invited by Cynthia Mans, a woman she met while living alone in Lafayette, Ind., to live with her family.
She accepted, and Antwon and Cynthia Mans became her legal guardians.
Initially, this seemed like a fresh start; however, it soon became apparent that her new environment was fraught with challenges.
Allegations surfaced accusing the Mans family of abusive behavior, including physical harm and excessive control over Natalia’s life.
Witnesses reported incidents where Natalia was subjected to physical discipline and confinement.
Soon, the Manses, too, began echoing sentiments similar to that of the Barnetts.
Antwon Mans said in a documentary voiceover,
Something ain’t right with Natalia. This girl is tweaking. I feel like she’s the enemy in the house. And she said to us, we have held her hostage. Made us look like we’re the enemy.
people.com
Natalia seeks refuge with Vince and Nicole DePaul to escape the grip of her adoptive parents, Cynthia and Antwon Mans.
— Investigation Discovery (@DiscoveryID) January 3, 2025
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter premieres January 6 and January 7 on ID and streams on Max. @streamonmax pic.twitter.com/rtP7uwKy3E
Natalia Escaped The Manses And Now Lives Happily With The DePauls, A Family Of Little People
During this period, Natalia formed an online relationship with a man named Neil.
Their virtual connection became a pivotal factor in her decision to leave the Mans household.
Neil expressed concerns about Natalia’s well-being and coordinated with the DePaul family—who had previously sought to adopt Natalia in 2009—to facilitate her escape.
In December 2023, Natalia left the Mans residence and was taken in by Nicole and Vince DePaul in upstate New York.
The DePauls are a family of little people consisting of Nicole DePaul, her husband Vince DePaul, and their daughter Mackenzie DePaul.
They have offered Natalia a supportive environment where she could rebuild her life.
Since moving in with them, Natalia has been pursuing her General Educational Development (GED) certificate, learning to drive, and planning necessary medical procedures related to her condition.
She has also started therapy to address the traumas from her past experiences.
Natalia has expressed a desire to become a school teacher and is actively working towards that goal.
Additional Information
- Both Nicole DePaul and Natalia Grace share the same rare form of dwarfism.
- Natalia Grace’s story reportedly inspired the horror movie Orphan, which revolves around a young girl adopted by a family who later discovers she is an adult with malicious intentions.
- Natalia was adopted by the Barnetts in 2010, but they were not her first adoptive family. A previous family had abandoned her due to undisclosed reasons before being adopted by the Barnetts.
