Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl, was accused of pretending to be a 6-year-old orphan who was adopted and later abandoned by Michael and Kristine Barnett. Over the past few years, there has been much discussion and debate regarding the case of Natalia.
Debates primarily focus on Natalia’s age and whether she deceived her adoptive parents or is a victim. The duo accused Natalia, who has a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal, of being an adult. Michael and Christine Barnett also claimed that Natalia was an adult woman with sinister intentions. The pair reportedly abandoned her and asserted that Natalia was a con artist who attempted to harm their family.
Despite legally changing Natalia’s age from 6 to 22, Michael and Christine encountered trouble that followed them. In September 2019, authorities charged the couple with neglect after they moved to Canada without Natalia. The trial subjected Michael to legal proceedings, and eventually, a verdict of not guilty was reached. But where is Natalia Grace now? Did she find a family to live with? Let’s take a look.
Natalia Grace today: Who adopted her and where is she now?
Another couple, Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans took in Natalia Grace in 2014 after someone abandoned her. They sought to become her legal guardians in 2016 but faced denial. Reports indicated that Antwon and Cynthia had to prove Natalia’s minor status. A hearing occurred to ascertain Natalia’s legal adult status, and the duo submitted medical reports as evidence. However, the judge maintained that Natalia was an adult. Consequently, Antwon and Cynthia had to withdraw the guardianship petition.
Despite this, Cynthia and Antwon persisted in caring for Natalia and treating her as a family member. The pair eventually became her new adoptive parents. In 2019, Cynthia and Antwon asserted that Natalia never exhibited any violent behavior toward their family. During their appearance on Dr. Phil, they maintained that they took her in when she was still a minor.
According to reports, Natalia Grace currently lives in Crawfordsville, Indiana, with Cynthia and Antwon. An ID documentary based on the case, titled The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, is available to stream on Prime Video.