The Curious Case Of Natalia Barnett: 7 Shocking Updates On Her Life Then And Now (2025)
The bizarre and deeply unsettling story of Natalia Grace Barnett has captivated the public for over a decade, turning a seemingly simple adoption into a criminal investigation and a viral documentary sensation. As of December 2025, the saga has reached several definitive conclusions, yet the central question—was she a child or an adult?—remains a source of intense debate and curiosity.
This article dives deep into the timeline, from her adoption by the Barnett family to the current status of her life today, providing the most recent updates following the highly publicized legal battles and docuseries. The transition from a Ukrainian orphan to a woman at the center of a national media storm is a journey few could imagine, and the latest information reveals a new chapter in her life.
Natalia Grace Barnett: A Complete Profile and Timeline
The identity and age of Natalia Grace Barnett have been the subject of an intense legal and public dispute. Her profile is defined by the conflicting accounts of her adoptive parents and her own testimony.
- Name: Natalia Grace Barnett (formerly Natalia Grace)
- Birthplace: Ukraine
- Condition: Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (a rare form of dwarfism)
- Disputed Age: Adopted in 2010, believed to be 6 or 7 years old. Her age was legally changed in 2012 to reflect that she was an adult. She currently lives as a woman in her early 20s.
- Adoptive Parents (2010): Kristine and Michael Barnett (Indiana, USA).
- Key Legal Events:
- 2012: Barnetts successfully petition an Indiana court to legally change her birth year, classifying her as an adult.
- 2013: The Barnetts move Natalia into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, before moving to Canada, leading to neglect charges.
- 2022: Michael Barnett is acquitted of neglect charges.
- 2023: Charges against Kristine Barnett are dismissed.
- Current Family: Nicole and Vincent DePaul (Upstate New York).
Then: The Shocking Allegations That Rocked the Barnett Family
The initial story began in 2010 when Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia, believing they were welcoming a young girl with a rare medical condition into their family. Their concerns began shortly after the adoption, with the Barnetts claiming that Natalia exhibited signs that suggested she was much older than a child, including a sophisticated vocabulary, adult-like behavior, and physical signs of maturity.
The Barnetts' suspicion led them to a controversial and life-altering action: they petitioned a court to legally change Natalia's age, successfully arguing that she was an adult in 2012. This legal re-ageing was the foundation for their next move. In 2013, they rented an apartment for Natalia in Lafayette, Indiana, and moved to Canada with their three biological sons. This abandonment led to criminal charges of neglect against both Michael and Kristine Barnett.
The Barnetts claimed Natalia was a "sociopath" and a "con artist" who had threatened their lives. They alleged she attempted to harm family members and displayed menacing behavior. Natalia, however, has consistently and vehemently denied all accusations of attempting to harm or kill any member of the Barnett family.
The Legal Fallout and Docuseries Phenomenon
The criminal charges brought against the Barnetts resulted in a series of highly publicized trials that kept the case in the national spotlight for years. The legal outcomes provided a measure of closure for the former adoptive parents, but did little to resolve the public's confusion over Natalia's true identity.
Michael and Kristine Barnett's Acquittals
Michael Barnett faced a criminal trial first. In October 2022, he was acquitted of all neglect charges related to abandoning Natalia. Following his acquittal, the charges against Kristine Barnett were later dismissed in March 2023. While the Barnetts were cleared of criminal wrongdoing, the court decisions did not invalidate the original age change, which legally maintained Natalia's status as an adult at the time of the alleged neglect.
The Impact of the Docuseries
The extraordinary nature of the case fueled massive media interest, resulting in two major docuseries: The Curious Case of Natalia Grace and Natalia Grace: Good American Family. These series presented conflicting narratives, with the first largely focusing on the Barnetts' claims and the second providing Natalia's perspective and her side of the story. The intense scrutiny from the docuseries kept the "Natalia Barnett" entity at the forefront of true crime discussions, with millions of viewers trying to piece together the truth.
Now: Where Is Natalia Grace Barnett in 2025?
After being abandoned by the Barnetts, Natalia's life took a turn when she was taken in by another family, Nicole and Vincent DePaul. The DePauls were the family who originally tried to adopt Natalia before the Barnetts. They have provided a stable home for her, and she currently lives with them in upstate New York.
Natalia is now living her life as a woman in her early 20s. The DePauls, who have been featured prominently in recent coverage, have expressed their belief in Natalia and have offered her the support and stability she was seeking. Her life today is focused on moving past the trauma of the past decade and establishing her own identity outside of the sensationalized media narrative. She has been described as a 21-year-old woman in the care of the DePauls.
The "then and now" of Natalia Barnett is a stark contrast. She transitioned from being a disputed child-or-adult figure in a neglect case to a young woman finally finding an environment where she feels safe and supported. The legal battles are over, and the public is left with a story that challenges the very definition of family, truth, and identity. Her current life with the DePauls marks a significant and positive shift from the tumultuous years with the Barnetts, providing a hopeful, if still complex, conclusion to her incredible journey.
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