Who Are Natalia Grace Parents? Where is Michael and Kristine Barnett Now?
by Rubaditsha | Updated May 30, 2023
Who is Natalia Grace?
Natalia Grace is an individual who gained attention due to a controversial and complex case surrounding her adoption. She was adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett on April 26, 2010. Initially, the Barnetts believed Natalia to be a six-year-old orphan from Ukraine. However, later forensic evidence revealed that Natalia's actual birthdate was September 4, 1989, making her much older than originally thought.
Natalia Grace was born with a condition called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), a form of dwarfism. The Barnetts claimed that after they welcomed Natalia into their home, they faced various challenges and alleged incidents of violence from her, including threats and attempts to harm family members.
In September 2019, Michael and Kristine Barnett were charged with neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury, and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent, based on the alleged abandonment of Natalia in 2013 when the family moved to Canada. However, in October 2022, the charges against Michael were dismissed, and in March 2023, the charges against Kristine were also dropped.
Natalia's story gained significant media attention and has been the subject of a documentary series titled "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace," which explores the events surrounding her adoption and the subsequent legal proceedings. The documentary delves into the perspectives of the Barnetts and sheds light on the complexities of the case.
Who are Natalia Grace Parents?
Natalia Grace's adoptive parents are Michael and Kristine Barnett. They were a formerly married couple from Indiana who met while attending college. Kristine made the decision to abandon her Amish background in order to marry Michael. The couple had three biological sons and also fostered Natalia Grace.
Kristine Barnett is an author and professional speaker who advocates for children with autism. She is the founder of the non-profit organization Jacob's Place, which is named after her and Michael's eldest son. The organization focuses on advocating for the needs of autistic children. In April 2013, Kristine published a book called "The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius," which likely recounts her experiences as a parent and her journey with her children.
On April 26, 2010, the Barnett family officially adopted Natalia Grace. At the time of the adoption, they believed that she was six years old. However, it was later discovered that Natalia was actually 21 years old when they decided to foster her. This revelation became a significant factor in the subsequent events and allegations involving Natalia.
According to Michael and Kristine Barnett, Natalia made several attempts to harm them and their children. They claimed that she exhibited dangerous behavior, such as attempting to poison Kristine and placing thumbtacks on the stairs to cause injury. They also stated that Natalia openly expressed her desire to kill Kristine. The Barnetts sought professional evaluation for Natalia, with doctors reportedly characterizing her as a sociopath and con artist who posed a danger to them.
However, Natalia has denied these allegations of violence and deception regarding her age. She has expressed a desire for the Barnetts to stop their claims and to end the ongoing controversy surrounding their relationship.
Where is Michael and Kristine Barnett Now?
There is information available regarding the current situations of Michael and Kristine Barnett. As per Peopel, after divorcing, the Barnetts faced legal charges related to neglecting a dependent. However, due to a court-ordered age change for Natalia, they were not charged with neglect of a child. This information was reported by People magazine.
In October 2022, Michael Barnett's trial resulted in a verdict of "not guilty" on three charges of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent. This news was reported by Fox News.
Following Michael's acquittal, Kristine Barnett's charges were dropped as well in March 2023. The prosecution reportedly determined that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. According to court documents obtained by The Exponent, Kristine's current residence is listed as Florida.
Where is Kristine Barnett Now?
Kristine Barnett's current whereabouts are not publicly known. However, according to court documents obtained by The Exponent, her listed residence at the time was in Florida. After facing legal charges related to neglect of a dependent, Kristine Barnett's case was dismissed in March 2023.
The prosecution concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Following the dismissal of her charges, there have been no significant public updates regarding Kristine Barnett's current location or activities.
Barnett Family Natalia
The current whereabouts of the Barnett family are not publicly known. However, based on the available information, here is a summary of their situation:
In July 2013, Michael and Kristine Barnett, along with their three biological sons, moved to Canada, leaving their adopted daughter, Natalia Grace, alone in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. Shortly after adopting Natalia, the Barnetts claimed that she exhibited dangerous and unsettling behavior, including attempts to harm them and their children. Kristine even alleged that Natalia once tried to poison her coffee. They sought medical advice and were informed by doctors that Natalia displayed sociopathic tendencies and was a potential threat to them.
In September 2019, the Barnetts were charged with neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury, and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent for allegedly abandoning Natalia in 2013. However, in October 2022, Michael Barnett was found not guilty on three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent. Following this, in March 2023, Kristine's charges were also dropped.
Kristine and Michael Barnett
Michael and Kristine Barnett are a couple from Indiana who were married for 15 years. They have three biological sons named Jacob, Wesley, and Ethan. Michael and Kristine met while in college, and Kristine left her Amish background to marry Michael. Kristine is an author and professional speaker who advocates for children with autism. She founded the non-profit organization Jacob's Place, which supports autistic children. In 2013, Kristine published her book "The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius."
In April 2010, the Barnetts adopted Natalia Grace, believing her to be six years old at the time. However, they later discovered that she was actually 21 years old. The Barnetts claimed that Natalia exhibited dangerous behavior, including threats of harm towards them and their children. They stated that Natalia attempted to poison Kristine and engaged in other harmful acts, leading them to believe that she was a sociopath.
In September 2019, Michael and Kristine were charged with neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury, and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent for allegedly abandoning Natalia in 2013 when the family moved to Canada. In October 2022, the charges against Michael were dismissed, and in March 2023, the charges against Kristine were also dropped. The court decided to dismiss the cases due to forensic evidence that revealed Natalia's true age as being older than initially believed.
The Barnett family's story has gained significant media attention, and a documentary series called "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" explores the events surrounding Natalia's adoption. The series sheds light on the perspectives of Michael and Kristine Barnett and the challenges they faced during their time as Natalia's foster parents.
Natalia Grace Story
Natalia Grace's story is a complex and intriguing one that involves her adoption by Michael and Kristine Barnett, her medical condition, and the subsequent legal proceedings surrounding her age and abandonment.
Natalia was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), a type of dwarfism. She was originally an orphan from Ukraine and was adopted by the Barnetts on April 26, 2010. At the time of the adoption, the Barnetts believed Natalia to be six years old, as indicated by the information they received.
However, as the story unfolded, doubts emerged regarding Natalia's age. During the trial, forensic evidence was presented to the Marion County Superior Court, revealing that Natalia's actual birthdate is September 4, 1989, rather than 2003, as previously believed. This revelation had significant implications for the legal proceedings and the accusations against the Barnetts.
The Barnetts faced charges of neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent causing bodily injury, and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent for the alleged abandonment of Natalia in 2013. It was believed that the abandonment occurred when the Barnetts moved to Canada in July 2013, leaving Natalia behind in Lafayette, Indiana.
The legal proceedings brought attention to the allegations made by the Barnetts about Natalia's behavior. They claimed that she had exhibited violent tendencies and made threats towards them and their biological children. They asserted that Natalia posed a danger to their family.
In October 2022, the charges against Michael Barnett were dismissed. Later, in March 2023, the charges against Kristine Barnett were also dropped. The court decided to dismiss the cases based on the forensic evidence that indicated Natalia was not a child at the time of the alleged abandonment.
The story of Natalia Grace has garnered significant media attention, leading to the production of a documentary series titled "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace." The series, scheduled to air on ID Discovery, explores the events and experiences surrounding Natalia and the Barnett family. It provides insights into their journey, the challenges they faced, and their perspectives on the situation.
As Natalia's story continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in adoption, the importance of accurate information and documentation, and the need for understanding and empathy in high-profile cases involving children.
Who are Natalia Grace Parents - FAQs
Natalia Grace was adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett.
Natalia Grace was adopted by the Barnett family on April 26, 2010.
Natalia Grace has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), a form of dwarfism.
Initially believed to be six years old at the time of adoption, forensic evidence presented during the trial revealed that Natalia's actual birthdate is September 4, 1989, not 2003 as previously believed.