Indiana Couple Claims Adopted Child with Dwarfism Natalia Grace Was an Adult Imposter with Sinister Intentions

Michael and Kristine Barnett, the Indiana adoptive parents of Natalia Grace who has a form of dwarfism, have claimed that she was merely posing as a child and was really an adult woman with sinister intentions.

The Indiana couple has claimed that Natalia Grace, who has a form of dwarfism, was merely posing as a child and was really an adult woman. (Photo: People)

Claims of the Adoptive Parents of Natalia Grace

In 2010, Michael and Kristine Barnett, an Indiana couple, embarked on what they believed would be the adoption of a 6-year-old orphan from Ukraine.

However, their journey took a shocking turn as they began to suspect that Natalia Grace, who has a form of dwarfism known as spondyloepiphyseal, was not the child she appeared to be.

The Barnetts have since claimed that Natalia Grace was actually an adult woman posing as a child, with sinister intentions and manipulative behavior. They have labeled her a “sociopath” and a “con artist” who posed a threat to their family, PEOPLE reported.

In 2010, the Barnetts adopted Natalia Grace from Ukraine, believing her to be a 6-year-old orphan.

However, they claim to have become suspicious when Natalia Grace displayed advanced language skills and physical traits not typical of a young child, such as pubic hair and menstrual cycles.

The Barnetts have accused Natalia Grace of multiple instances of attempting to harm them. They claim she tried to poison Kristine’s coffee, dragged her towards an electric fence, and placed thumbtacks on the stairs to injure them.

In 2012, the Barnetts sought to legally change Natalia Grace’s age to 22, altering her birth year from 2003 to 1989.

The following year, they moved to Canada with their three biological sons, leaving Natalia behind in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. The Barnetts were charged with neglect of a dependent, but the charges were adjusted due to Natalia’s changed age, preventing a child neglect charge.

In 2022, Michael Barnett was found not guilty of three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent while Kristine’s charges were dropped in March 2023.

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Natalia Grace Denies Allegations

Despite the Barnetts’ claims, Natalia Grace has denied the allegations, stating in an exclusive preview of the follow-up documentary “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks” that she wants to share her side of the story, as she never had the opportunity to do so before.

Natalia Grace, now legally 33, is reported to be living with another family in Indiana. She maintains that she is 19 years old, contrary to the Barnetts’ claims. Natalia is expected to share her side of the story in a forthcoming documentary.

The unusual story of Natalia Grace has gained further attention through the three-part docu-series “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” which recently premiered on Investigation Discovery (ID).

The series delves into the complex legal battle surrounding the age and abandonment of Natalia Grace.

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