Natalia Grace Barnett, born on September 4, 2003, in Ukraine, has become the central figure in a complex and perplexing story that has captured the public's attention. Her life, marked by adoption, legal controversies, and abandonment, is the subject of two television series, 'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace' and the upcoming Hulu series 'Untitled Orphan Project.' In this deep dive, we explore the early life, adoption, and the bewildering events that have surrounded Natalia Grace.
Natalia Grace's journey begins in Ukraine, where she was born to Anna Volodymyrivna Gava of Mykolaiv. Diagnosed with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism, Natalia found herself placed in an orphanage after her birth. Her entry into the United States came through adoption, and in the spring of 2010, she became part of the Barnett family when Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted her. Natalia, who had previous adoptive placements and temporary homes, adopted the name Natalia Grace Barnett.
In a startling turn of events, Natalia's life took a dark twist when, in 2012, her adoptive parents successfully petitioned the Marion County court to change her Ukrainian birth records, altering her birth year from 2003 to 1989, effectively changing her age from 8 to 22. This legal maneuver allowed the Barnetts to claim that Natalia was a legal adult.
In July 2013, the Barnetts moved Natalia to an apartment in Indiana, and shortly thereafter, they relocated to Canada, leaving Natalia behind. Abandoned and alone, Natalia's plight came to light when Antwon and Cynthia Mans took her in, noting her struggles to live independently.
The Barnetts faced legal consequences, with charges of neglect of a dependent. Although Michael Barnett was found not guilty, the neglect case revolved around Natalia's disability rather than her age. Prosecutors, despite obtaining DNA confirmation of Natalia's birth mother in Ukraine and supporting records from Ukraine, were unable to present evidence of her true age during the trial.
The legal battle raised questions about Natalia's age and the motivations behind the Barnetts' actions. The court-assigned birth date of 1989, if accurate, would have meant Natalia's birth mother gave birth at the age of 10. The defense claimed that Natalia exhibited sociopathic behavior and lied about her age, drawing parallels to the 2009 film 'Orphan.' Cynthia Mans, who took Natalia in after her abandonment, disputed these claims, asserting that Natalia did not display such behavior while living in their home.
In 2019, Natalia's story reached a broader audience through an episode of 'Dr. Phil,' shedding light on her perspective. However, the complexities of her life continued to unfold in the 2023 Investigation Discovery series 'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,' where Natalia herself speaks in the second season.
Natalia's enigmatic life is set to receive further scrutiny with the upcoming Hulu TV series, 'Untitled Orphan Project.' As the public eagerly awaits this portrayal, questions linger about the true events that transpired in Natalia Grace's life.