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Michael and Kristine Barnett, the adoptive parents of Natalia Grace, have had a tumultuous journey since adopting her in 2010. Initially believing they were bringing home a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan, the couple's perspective shifted dramatically over the years. They came to believe that Natalia was an adult posing as a child.
This belief made them take drastic measures, which involved changing her age in legal documents and moving her into an apartment of her own. Currently, Michael is in Indiana, where he was found not guilty of the allegations of neglect. On the other hand, Kristine is living in Florida. Her case was also dropped.
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Road to Natalia Speaks is a spin-off of the true case filmed in a documentary series on Investigation Discovery. The series will premiere on January 1, 2024, airing nightly from 9 pm to 11 pm ET/PT across three consecutive nights on Investigation Discovery (ID).
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This new edition delves deeper into the life of Natalia Grace Barnett. The new series features her story and the controversy surrounding her adoption by Michael Barnett and Kristine Barnett.
History of adoption
Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia Grace in April 2010, believing she was six years old. Natalia was diagnosed with a rare bone disorder called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Later, after bringing her back home, they began wondering about her age as soon as they allegedly noticed signs of maturity in her.
They claimed that Natalia portrayed behaviors that made them suspect her true age was much more advanced than what she reported being. This led them to approach the court, as they wanted her birth year changed from 2003 to 1989 to officially declare her an adult.
In 2012, the Barnetts moved Natalia into her apartment in Indiana and later moved to Canada for their eldest son's education. During this period, they were subjected to increasing scrutiny over their treatment of Natalia. In September 2019, both Michael and Kristine Barnett were charged with neglect after Natalia's case gained public attention.
Legal troubles and charges
In 2019, Michael and Kristine Barnett were charged with numerous counts of neglect related to Natalia. They insisted that she was an adult because of the age modification, but in the law, she was still classified as a dependent because of her disability. Michael was charged with neglect that resulted in bodily injury and conspiracy to neglect a dependent.
In October 2022, he was acquitted of all charges after the jury trial, while the charges against Kristine were dismissed earlier in March 2023. During the trial, Natalia testified about her living experience with Barnetts. She said she was falsely accused of harming the family and that a therapist had certified her to be a sociopath.
While the Barnetts accused Natalia of poisoning the coffee meant for Kristine and dragging her into the electric fence. By contrast, Natalia claimed she felt loved by the couple during her early days with them.
Current lives of Michael and Kristine Barnett
After divorcing in 2014, Michael Barnett moved back to Indianapolis from Canada. He remarried and works as a district director of operations for a financial firm. His legal troubles seem to have dissipated after his acquittal.
Kristine Barnett has mostly kept a low profile since the controversy erupted over their adoption case. She lives in Bradenton, Florida, where she has concentrated on personal works, including writing a memoir titled "The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism," describing her life raising children who have special talents.
Both Michael and Kristine Barnett's stories form part of the continued story that has been discussed in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, particularly its new season, Natalia Speaks, where Natalia herself speaks about her life and experiences with her adoptive parents.
In summary, Michael and Kristine Barnett have had a hard time since adopting Natalia Grace. Their claims of her age and behavior have caused legal consequences that have now shaped their lives. Michael is back in Indiana as he was acquitted of charges of neglect, while Kristine lives in Florida, where her charges were dismissed.
