Current:Home > ScamsNatalia Grace Adoption Case: How Her Docuseries Ended on a Chilling Plot Twist -AssetScope
Natalia Grace Adoption Case: How Her Docuseries Ended on a Chilling Plot Twist
View
Date:2025-04-11 13:37:51
The mystery surrounding Natalia Grace continues.
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks—which explored accusations lodged against the Ukrainian orphan by her adoptive parents Michael and Kristine Barnett—ended on Jan. 3 in a major plot twist, with her new family also alleging to seeing troubling behavior.
Though Natalia was initially taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans after the Barnetts severed ties with her, the couple revealed in the final moments of the ID docuseries that they, too, were "done with her."
"Something ain't right with Natalia. This girl is tweaking," Antwon told producers in a phone call. "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."
Meanwhile, Cynthia accused Natalia of "stabbing her family in the back over a complete lie."
"She's done other things too, but this was a new low," Antwon added. "Natalia does not have emotions for nothing but herself. We're done."
E! News has not been able to obtain Natalia's contact information for comment.
Natalia—who has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism—was first adopted by the Barnetts in 2010. At the time, the Barnetts said they believed she was 6 years old.
The pair grew suspicious of Natalia's age as time went on, alleging that she was actually an adult with intentions to hurt their family. In 2012, the Barnetts petitioned a court to change Natalia's birth year from 2003 to 1989, before moving to Canada with their three sons the following year and leaving Natalia in the United States.
Michael and Kristine, who finalized their divorce in 2018, were subsequently brought up on neglect charges in connection to their move. However, Michael was found not guilty on his charges in 2022 and prosecutors dropped their case against Kristine in March 2023.
On The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, a DNA test conducted by a medical lab concluded Natalia was around 22 years old as of August 2023, indicating that she would've been approximately 9 years old when she moved in with the Barnetts.
"This one little piece of paper throws every single lie that the Barnetts has said right into the trash with a match," Natalia said after receiving the lab results. "They ignored everything that was pointing to the truth just so they could create this stupid lie."
When she confronted her estranged father, Michael offered a tearful apology, which Natalia accepted.
"I forgive you," she told him, prompting Michael to tell her, "You don't have to."
He added, "I don't forgive me."
For her part, Kristine has denied allegations of mistreatment and abandonment brought up in the docuseries.
"She was not abused by anyone in my family," Kristine wrote, in part, on Facebook Jan. 3. "Any discipline of Natalia was very minimal and was not out of the bounds of normal parenting. If anything it was overly permissive as we all felt a tremendous amount of sympathy for Natalia and loved her while she lived with us."
For more true crime updates on your need-to-know cases, head to Oxygen.com.veryGood! (21962)
Related
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan heads to the Senate for final approval after months of delay
- Advocates, man who inspired film ‘Bernie’ ask for air conditioning for him and other Texas inmates
- Trump’s $175 million bond in New York civil fraud judgment case is settled with cash promise
- A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
- 2024 NFL draft rumors roundup: Quarterbacks, cornerbacks and trades dominate possibilities
- Family mourns Wisconsin mother of 10 whose body was found in trunk
- Bill allowing parents to be fined for child’s criminal offenses heads to Tennessee governor
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Here's how to track the status of your 2024 tax refund
Ranking
- Dick Vitale announces he is cancer free: 'Santa Claus came early'
- Scottie Scheffler claims RBC Heritage title, wins for fourth time in last five tournaments
- Contact restored with NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe
- Key takeaways from the opening statements in Donald Trump’s hush money trial
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Prince Louis Is All Grown Up in Royally Sweet 6th Birthday Portrait
- A retirement expense of $413,000 you'll need to be prepared for
- EPA Faulted for Wasting Millions, Failing to Prevent Spread of Superfund Site Contamination
Recommendation
Could your smelly farts help science?
2024 NFL mock draft: Six QBs make first-round cut as trade possibilities remain
Internet providers roll out broadband nutrition labels for consumers
Man who attacked police after storming US Capitol with Confederate flag gets over 2 years in prison
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
The Daily Money: Want to live near good schools?
When red-hot isn’t enough: New government heat risk tool sets magenta as most dangerous level
Officials identify Marine who died during training near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina