Natalia Grace, an orphan from Ukraine, has shockingly encountered her adoptive father in a documentary series recently released.
In a groundbreaking new six-part series, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, Grace presents her side of the story on the controversy where she has been charged with “posing” as a minor despite her true age.
Who is Natalia Grace?
When Natalia Grace first came into the limelight, her adoptive parents were suspicious that she may not be who she said she was.
Kristine and Michael Barnett believed they had taken in a six-year-old girl with a rare bone condition in 2010 but they allege that Natalia started showing some very peculiar and malevolent behavior shortly thereafter. It was then that the duo found out that the person they thought was a young girl was a 22-year-old female.
In 2012, the Barnetts petitioned the Marion County Probate Court to legally alter the girl’s age to 22, which would then modify her birth year from 2003 to 1989 – two years after they adopted her.
The next year, the now-divorced couple and their three biological children relocated to Canada, leaving Natalia in a Lafayette apartment to her own devices.
Michael was cleared of the three charges of neglect and conspiring to neglect a dependent in 2022, while Kristine was absolved of any charges by March of 2023, as they had been previously indicted for neglect of a dependent.
Subsequently, they accused her of being a ‘grown-up sociopath pretending to be a child’, making an extraordinary, scary, movie-like accusation of deception. Additionally, they said she had made several attempts to harm them while living in their household.
A new documentary series, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, featuring Indiana husband-and-wife duo Kristine and Michael, was released to the public in May. The series left people perplexed.
The show examined all aspects of the extraordinary and harrowing case – in particular, it showed Michael sobbing and pounding the floor, insisting that his whole family had been ‘subjected to maltreatment’ by their adopted daughter.
Despite all the accusations, Natalia has persisted in refuting the assertions that she wanted to hurt her family. To make matters even more interesting, viewers of the story will soon be able to watch Natalia tell her version of events in an upcoming documentary.
In the trailer for The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, Natalia speaks to the audience, revealing her story.
“In every lie is a hidden truth, but you gotta dig enough to be able to see it. This is my side of the story. Do I look like a monster to you?”
In the teaser, she is also observed to be challenging Michael.
“You’re supposed to be my dad. You’re supposed to be the one to protect me.”
Natalia is heard speaking to him, saying, “I was never in [your and ex-wife Kristine’s] room with a knife,” to which Michael shrugged and replied: “I know what I saw.”
The synopsis of the documentary reads as follows:
“Picking up where the shocking finale of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace left off, Natalia Speaks dives headfirst into the questions, controversies, and secrets unearthed in the first instalment, but this time, Natalia shares her side of the story.
The six-part docuseries will also showcase an extensive, emotional sit down between Natalia and adoptive father Michael Barnett as they sit face-to-face for the first time and come to terms with the accusations that have been thrown around in both directions.”
The exciting tale of Natalia Grace will begin on Monday, 1 January, airing for two hours each night from 9-11 PM ET/PT on ID.
