Michael Barnett
Michael Barnett made headlines in 2019 after he and Kristine, his former spouse, were charged with neglect for abandoning Natalia, their adopted daughter whom they believed was acting like an adult pretending to be a child.
Natalia later testified at her trial and is currently living in Indiana; however, many questions regarding her case still exist, such as her true age.
Michael Barnett worked as District Operations Director at an Indiana financial institution. Over time he built up a successful career at this firm and enjoyed both financial stability and an idyllic lifestyle. Michael also boasts an accomplished writing career having published multiple papers related to international politics; his research is respected within academia and has been used in college-level classes.
In 2023, the Barnetts were declared innocent of neglecting their daughter due to changes in her legal age and statute of limitations; however, prosecutors remain doubtful of their claims about her age.
At first, Michael and Kristine Barnett believed they had adopted Natalia from Ukraine as a six-year-old with congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia; later they suspected she was actually an adult posing as a child and claimed she attacked them, attempted poisoning them, pushed one into an electric fence, etc.
Michael Barnett and Kristine adopted Natalia Grace from Ukraine in 2010, believing she was an impermanent 6-year-old with a rare form of dwarfism. But soon afterward they claimed she began acting like an adult and scamming them; according to them she hid knives in her room, urinated on their adoptive children, threatened them with Pledge cleaning solution, and tried to kill them with Pledge cleaning solution; therefore they petitioned the court to change Natalia Grace from 6 years old to 22.
At this point, Natalia’s true age remains unclear. In a 2019 Dr Phil interview, she denied being an adult and claimed she had been misled by her adoptive parents; later testifying at Michael’s trial and being taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans in 2022 before eventually moving back into Indiana with them according to In Touch’s reporting. Though Investigation Discovery docuseries shed some light on these conflicting narratives, her true age remains unanswered.
Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia Grace, an 11-year-old with a rare form of dwarfism, in 2010. However, soon after adopting her, the couple believed she was an adult posing as a child who threatened them violently; eventually deciding to place Natalia Grace in an Indiana rental apartment while moving back to Canada.
Barnetts were charged with neglect but eventually found not guilty in 2023 when they appeared alongside Natalia Mans and her adopted parents – who later took in Natalia after Barnetts had abandoned her.
Although true crime enthusiasts are drawn to Natalia Grace’s tale, some remain dubious of her parents’ claims that she was an adult pretending to be a victim. Curious Case of Natalia Grace created much discussion among viewers; many even likened the documentary series’ six episodes to The Bad Seed (an iconic horror film depicting a nine-year-old Russian girl with murderous tendencies)!
Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia Grace Barnett in 2010 thinking she was six years old; later they discovered she was actually an adult posing as a child, prompting them to abandon her so as to protect their other children.
Michael and Kristine make accusations against each other to try to explain what happened, even going so far as claiming Natalia used sexual manipulation and sexual exploitation to force them to acknowledge she was an adult pretending to be a child.
Michael was eventually found not guilty of neglecting Natalia in 2022 and charges against Kristine were dropped in March 2023. Although abandoned by both her parents, Natalia still lives and was taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans. Recently appearing on Dr. Phil alongside them she insisted she should be treated like an adult rather than treated like a child.