The True Story Of Natalia Grace: Where Is The Ukrainian Orphan Now After The Shocking Court Verdict?

The story of Natalia Grace Barnett is one of the most bizarre and disturbing true-crime sagas of the 21st century, captivating global audiences and sparking endless debate: was she a child victim of abandonment, or a dangerous adult sociopath disguised as a little girl? As of December 22, 2025, the narrative has shifted dramatically, moving from a sensationalized media circus to a quiet, new chapter for Natalia herself, even as her former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, have seen their criminal cases conclude with a surprising legal outcome that few predicted. This article provides the definitive, up-to-date account of Natalia Grace's life, the core of the age change controversy, and the final, shocking verdict in the Barnett case. The entire controversy centers on a single, pivotal question: what was Natalia Grace's true age when she was adopted in 2010? Adoptive parents Michael and Kristine Barnett claimed they took in a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, only to later allege she was an adult woman with a severe psychological disorder who was actively trying to harm their family. The legal battle that followed, including a court-approved age change, led to criminal charges of neglect against the Barnetts, creating a true-crime phenomenon documented in the series *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*.

Natalia Grace: A Biographical Profile and Key Entities

The story of Natalia Grace involves a complex cast of characters and a timeline marked by legal and personal upheaval.

• Full Name: Natalia Grace
• Place of Birth: Ukraine
• Medical Condition: Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (a rare bone growth disorder resulting in short stature and skeletal abnormalities, a form of dwarfism).
• First Adoptive Parents (2010): Michael and Kristine Barnett (Indianapolis, Indiana).
• The Controversy: The Barnetts petitioned the Marion County Probate Court in 2012 to legally change Natalia's age from 8 to 22, claiming she was a manipulative adult.
• The Abandonment: After the age change was granted, the Barnetts moved Natalia into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and then moved to Canada with their three biological sons, leading to criminal neglect charges.
• Second Adoptive Family (The Mans): Cynthia and Antwon Mans, who took Natalia in after the Barnetts moved. The Mans family later had their own issues with the case.
• Current Caretakers (The DePauls): Nicole and Vince DePaul (upstate New York), who also have a form of dwarfism, currently provide a supportive home for Natalia.
• Documentary Series: *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace* (2023) and the follow-up *Good American Family*.

The Shocking Age Change and Abandonment Claims

The core of the *Natalia Grace Barnett* case revolves around the 2012 legal petition that successfully re-aged Natalia. The Barnetts argued that medical evidence, including dental and bone density tests, suggested Natalia was much older than a child, and they presented testimony about alleged adult-like behaviors and threats. The court ultimately sided with the Barnetts, legally changing Natalia's birth year from 2003 to 1989, effectively making her an adult of 22 years old. Following this successful petition, the Barnett family moved to Canada, leaving Natalia in a rented apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. Their argument was that since the court had legally declared her an adult, they were not abandoning a child. This action led to Michael and Kristine Barnett being charged with two counts of felony neglect of a dependent, a crime that shocked the public and made national headlines. The prosecution argued that, regardless of the probate court's ruling, the Barnetts knew they were leaving a person with a disability who was dependent on them. The entire case was a legal quagmire, pitting the state's criminal charges against the civil court's age determination. The media storm only intensified as the story unfolded, with Kristine Barnett publishing a book and both sides giving exclusive interviews, painting conflicting pictures of a vulnerable orphan and a conniving adult. The complex nature of Natalia's condition, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, which causes a juvenile appearance, became a key point of contention in determining her true biological age.

The Unexpected Verdict: Michael and Kristine Barnett Acquitted

In a twist that surprised many true-crime followers, the criminal proceedings against Michael and Kristine Barnett concluded with acquittals. Michael Barnett was the first to face a jury trial in 2022. He was charged with neglecting a dependent, but his defense focused on the 2012 court order that legally changed Natalia's age, arguing that he and Kristine could not legally neglect an adult. The jury ultimately found Michael Barnett Not Guilty on all charges. Kristine Barnett's trial followed a similar path. Her legal team successfully argued that the state could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she had neglected a *child*, given the prior court ruling that re-aged Natalia. Kristine Barnett was also found Not Guilty of the charges of neglect. This outcome means that legally, neither of the Barnetts was held criminally accountable for their actions of leaving Natalia in the apartment. The verdict highlights the legal complexity of the age change petition—a civil court action that preempted the criminal neglect charges, creating a unique and frustrating legal loophole for those who viewed Natalia as a victim. The result leaves a profound question about accountability in a case that became synonymous with alleged child abandonment.

Natalia Grace Today: A New Life in Upstate New York

Despite the tumultuous past and the sensational media coverage, Natalia Grace is now living a quieter, more stable life. After her time with the Mans family, she was taken in by Nicole and Vince DePaul, a couple in upstate New York. The DePauls also have a form of dwarfism, providing Natalia with a supportive environment of people who understand her physical challenges. According to recent reports, Natalia is focused on building a future for herself. She is currently studying for her GED (General Educational Development) diploma, a significant step toward her educational goals. Beyond her studies, she has expressed a strong desire to become a teacher, reflecting a focus on positive personal development and stability. Her current life is a world away from the international true-crime spotlight. She enjoys typical young adult activities, such as learning to drive and listening to popular music artists like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus. The follow-up documentary series, *Good American Family*, provided a glimpse into this new chapter, showing her integration into the DePaul family and her efforts to move past the trauma of her previous experiences. The stability offered by Nicole and Vince DePaul represents the most hopeful development in the long, strange, and often heartbreaking story of Natalia Grace.

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