• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content

Home> News

Published 19:36 8 Jun 2023 GMT+1

Natalia Grace's adoptive parents abandoned her after having age legally changed to 22-years-old

Michael and Kristine left their adoptive daughter in Lafayette before moving to Canada

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

Natalia Grace's adoptive parents abandoned her after having her age legally changed to 22-years-old.

A new documentary, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, covering all the details behind the bizarre and harrowing case follows the likes of Michael Barnett and his wife, Kristine, who first adopted Ukrainian Natalia Grace in 2010, and were under the impression that they were welcoming a six-year-old child into their home.

The series also explores the Barnetts’ accusations of Natalia being a fraudulent 'adult sociopath masquerading as a child'.

Advert

When Michael and Kristine first adopted Natalia, they believed that she was a six-year-old child with a rare bone growth disorder

However, it was later revealed that Natalia was not who she said she was - far from it, actually.

Michael and Kristine Barnett abandoned Natalia Grace after suspicions were raised over her true identity.
Investigation Discovery

It was found that she wasn't a child at all and actually had form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal - with a judge determining that she was an adult woman aged 22.

Advert

Legal expert Beth Karas explains in the six-part series: "The judge had a petition prepared by an attorney that would lay out the arguments for why this person is not the age they believe she is – she is actually an adult.

"Nobody knows quite what age, but she has not grown in four years, so the judge came up with his own little formula: ‘Well, you stop growing at 18 – if she hasn’t grown in four years then she’s at least 18 when she entered their lives. And I’m gonna add four years'.

"He said, ‘Okay, I find you 22'."

In 2012, the Barnetts had Natalia's legal age changed from six to 22-years-old, then in 2013, they left her behind in an apartment building in Lafayette, Indiana, and moved to Canada.

Advert

The Barnetts had Natalia's legal age changed from six to 22-years-old in 2012.
Investigation Discovery

The pair were later hit with neglect charges in September 2019.

Michael went to trial in February, 2022 over charges of neglect of a dependent, neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury and conspiracy to neglect a dependent.

The court eventually found Michael not guilty, with the charges against Kristine also being dropped in March, 2023.

Advert

Michael and Kristine have since pushed back and instead claimed that they were victims of fraud.

The biological mum of Natalia, Anna Gava, has also come forward to reveal her real age.

The pair left Natalia in an apartment in Indiana before moving to Canada.
Investigation Discovery

In episode five, Gava is interviewed by police as part of a neglect of a dependent case against Michael and Kristine Barnett, and is required to prove she is the birth mother via DNA test.

Advert

Then, three years after proving they are related, she explains how she herself was born in 1979, before revealing her daughter’s date of birth.

"She was born on September 4th 2003," Gava says.

"She was born at 6.25am in the Maternity Hospital No. 1. She is my biological daughter."

This would place Natalia's age today at 19 years and nine months, to be exact.

Featured Image Credit: Investigation Discovery

Topics: US News, Parenting, Crime, Documentaries, TV And Film, Real Life, True Crime

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    'Weird' last text message Idaho college murders victim sent to twin sister just hours before being brutally killed

    Bryan Kohberger murdered four University of Idaho students in November 2022

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Prince George makes extremely rare public comment during Wimbledon appearance

    The young royal attended Wimbledon with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales and his sister, Princess Charlotte

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Donald Trump just defunded life-saving women’s health service to give billionaires a tax break

    The bill will 'effectively defund' a medical institution, with almost a third set to close their doors if the legislation goes ahead

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    US citizen dies from the plague less than 24 hours after showing symptoms

    The Arizona residents' identity is being kept quiet by officials 'out of respect for their family'

    News
  • Billie Eilish fans shocked after discovering who her parents are
  • Octomom Natalie Suleman reveals her one biggest regret after having 14 kids
  • Father’s heartbreaking final voicemail to children before being swept away by deadly floods shared by family
  • Mum issues urgent Halloween warning to parents after daughter almost died eating popular sweet