Hulu’s ‘Good American Family’ is more than just a crime drama, it’s a haunting dive into one of the most bizarre adoption scandals in modern history. Inspired by the true story of Natalia Grace, the show follows the whirlwind of accusations, legal battles, and unanswered questions that surrounded the Ukrainian orphan.
Was Natalia really a child, or was she, as her adoptive parents claimed, an adult masquerading as a little girl? What really happened behind the closed doors of the Barnett household?
‘Good American Family’: The Tragic And Twisted Tale Of Natalia Grace
Previously, the docu-series ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace’ has already explored multiple sides of this tangled web. However, ‘Good American Family’ dramatizes the story in a way that forces viewers to consider every little aspect. In 2010, Michael and Kristine Barnett, a well-known Indiana couple, adopted Natalia from Ukraine.
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From the outside, they seemed like the perfect family for a child in need. Kristine was a motivational speaker, and Michael was a doting father. Their biological son, Jacob Barnett, was a physics prodigy with autism. So, adopting Natalia, who had a rare form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDc), shouldn’t have been controversial at all.
From the moment Natalia arrived, suspicion brewed. Kristine allegedly noticed signs that Natalia wasn’t a child at all. The breaking point, according to Michael, came when Kristine gave Natalia a bath and saw that she had full pubic hair. There were also claims that Natalia had her period, had adult teeth, and behaved very adult-like.
The Barnetts claimed that Natalia began exhibiting dangerous behavior. Michael Barnett alleged that she smeared feces on walls, threatened to harm their biological children, and even attempted to poison Kristine by putting cleaning fluid in her coffee. In the docu-series, their son Jacob also recalled being terrified of Natalia.
He was convinced she was going to kill them in their sleep. However, Natalia tells a different story. In ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace’, she refutes these accusations, saying she was a normal child who was mistreated, pepper-sprayed, and abandoned. She argues that the Barnetts were looking for an excuse to get rid of her once they realized her disability would require more care than they were prepared to give.
Why Natalia’s Age Was Legally Changed From 8 To 22
In 2012, the Barnetts took an unprecedented legal step. They petitioned an Indiana court to have Natalia’s age changed from 8 to 22. The court agreed, legally altering her birth year from 2003 to 1989. Suddenly, Natalia was no longer considered a dependent child. This decision meant that the Barnetts were no longer responsible for Natalia.
Shortly afterward, they moved her into an apartment alone and relocated to Canada, leaving her behind. The situation became even more convoluted when questions arose about the medical evidence used to justify Natalia’s age change. Some doctors said Natalia had adult features, while others insisted she was still a child. In 2023, genetic testing concluded that Natalia was likely born in 2003, meaning she was indeed a child.
Kristine and Michael were later charged with neglecting a dependent. Michael was acquitted. Whereas, the charges against Kristine were dropped. However, the damage had already been done. Natalia was left to fend for herself in a world where she was seen as either a dangerous manipulator or a tragic victim of abuse.
Life After The Barnetts: What Happened To Natalia Grace?
After being abandoned, Natalia struggled to survive on her own. Her apartments were not accessible for someone with her condition. A kind neighbor, Cynthia Mans, took Natalia under her wing and later adopted her. Cynthia and her husband, Antwon Mans, were a religious couple who had ten children. For a while, it seemed as though Natalia had finally found stability.
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However, in ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace’, she later claimed that life with the Mans family became another nightmare. She accused them of abuse. Natalia’s second adoption ended in turmoil. She left the Mans household in 2023. After years of uncertainty, Natalia is now living with Nicole and Vincent DePaul.
In 2023, Natalia reached out to the DePauls for help. With the assistance of their daughter, Mackenzie, they arranged to pick her up secretly from the Mans family’s church. Since then, Natalia has been living with them and working to rebuild her life. At approximately 22 years old, Natalia is trying to find a sense of normalcy after being the subject of one of the most controversial adoption stories in modern history.
