The Many Faces of Natalia Grace: Unveiling the Complex Truth Behind Her Story
The story of Natalia Grace is one of the most perplexing and polarizing adoption cases in recent memory. From allegations of deceptive age misrepresentation to court battles and sensational headlines, it has left the public struggling to separate fact from speculation. Now, with the release of the third season of her show, fans and skeptics alike have even more to dissect about Natalia’s life and the controversies surrounding her.
In this blog post, we’ll trace the origins of Natalia’s story, revisit the major revelations from the first two seasons, explore her time with the Mans and the DePauls, and dive into the long-term implications of the Barnetts’ controversial decision to re-age Natalia.
1. Who Is Natalia Grace?
Natalia Grace was adopted from Ukraine by Michael and Kristine Barnett, an Indiana couple who had already been raising multiple children with special needs. Natalia has a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a condition affecting bone growth that can lead to a variety of medical challenges. Upon her arrival in the United States, she was described as a sweet but tiny girl—allegedly only six or seven years old.
1.1 The Initial Discrepancies
Soon after welcoming Natalia into their home, the Barnetts began to suspect that her official documents were not telling the whole story. They claimed Natalia displayed behaviors and physical maturity that did not align with her purported young age. As questions swirled, the Barnetts grew fearful that Natalia might be an adult posing as a child.
What emerged was a complicated blend of legal motions, medical evaluations, and swirling rumors—leading many to wonder if Natalia was indeed a vulnerable, developmentally delayed child or if she was orchestrating a con to manipulate a well-intentioned family for financial gain and security.
2. The Central Controversy: Child or Con Artist?
One of the most contentious aspects of this entire case is the debate over Natalia’s true age. The Barnetts have claimed that numerous doctors and experts (at least initially) agreed Natalia was older than stated in her Ukrainian adoption paperwork. Kristine Barnett, in particular, insisted that Natalia exhibited mature behaviors inconsistent with someone supposedly under ten years old.
2.1 The “Con Artist” Allegations
The notion that Natalia could be a con artist didn’t just arise from the Barnetts’ suspicions; it also found footing in media coverage and online forums. Photographs that seemed to show Natalia looking more adult-like, combined with conflicting statements about her medical needs, led internet sleuths to theorize that she had orchestrated a grand deception from the start.
2.2 The Counternarrative: A Vulnerable Child
Alternatively, advocates for Natalia suggest the Barnetts grossly exaggerated her actions, possibly to explain why they later relinquished her care and moved abroad. Supporters stress her documented special needs, the complexities of Ukrainian adoption records, and the fact that trauma or a language barrier could have contributed to misunderstandings about her behavior.
My perspective aligns more closely with the latter: Natalia was a victim of the Barnetts. Evidence suggests that she was not an adult when they legally re-aged her, a decision that significantly impacted her future. The Barnetts reclassified her as a 22-year-old, leaving a defenseless, disabled child alone in a ghetto home that was unsuitable for her physical needs. While Natalia was technically classified as an adult, her disabilities still qualified her as a dependent of the Barnetts, and they should be held accountable for their actions.
3. Key Developments from the First Two Seasons
The first two seasons of Natalia’s show (commonly referred to as a docu-series following the case) attempted to shed light on the saga through interviews, expert testimonials, and never-before-seen footage. Here are some of the most pivotal revelations viewers encountered:
Medical Records & Evaluations
The show featured conflicting medical assessments regarding Natalia’s bone density and growth plates. Some specialists claimed her skeletal development indicated older age, while others said she was indeed within the range of a young child.
Legal Battles
Court documents revealed that the Barnetts obtained a legal ruling to revise Natalia’s birth year, effectively reclassifying her from a minor to an adult.
Natalia later found herself under the guardianship of another family, who maintained that she was a child in need of love and support, not a grown adult capable of deceit.
4. Natalia’s Life with the Mans and the DePauls
Life with the Mans
After the Barnetts moved to Canada, Natalia was taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans in 2013. Initially, it seemed Natalia had found a supportive environment. However, the third season reveals startling allegations about Natalia’s treatment while living with the Mans family. Witnesses, including neighbors and friends, have reported that the Mans exploited Natalia and other adopted children for financial gain.
The show highlights accusations that the Mans used their adopted children to collect government benefits and charity donations. Natalia reportedly endured neglect and emotional abuse. Despite portraying themselves as rescuers, the Mans are alleged to have maintained a financial hold over Natalia even after she made a desperate escape in the middle of the night. The details of her escape paint a harrowing picture of her time with the family, including strict controls that left her feeling trapped.
Life with the DePauls
After escaping the Mans, Natalia was taken in by Nicole and William DePaul. The DePauls put everything on the line to rescue Natalia, believing they were giving her a second chance at a stable life. However, their optimism was soon tested. Natalia’s deceitful and manipulative tendencies strained the family’s relationships. Nicole described how Natalia caused tension in her marriage and with their daughter Mackenzie, often lying and hiding details of her interactions with the Mans.
5. True Crime Tour with Fancy – A Weekend to Die For
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Depending on the city, events will span Thursday and Friday or Saturday and Sunday, with thrilling activities, personal interactions, and a heartfelt remembrance for Dee Dee Blanchard.
General Ticketed Events
- Candlelight Vigil: Honor Dee Dee Blanchard with a moving vigil.
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VIP Experience
Includes a luxury party bus tour, personal meet-and-greet, signed book bundles, and an exclusive brunch with Fancy Macelli.

Fancy Macelli is the founder of The Good Wives’ Network, a streaming platform created by and for women. Alongside her partners Mack and Sara, Fancy has also launched the non-profit Stop the Cycle of Abuse Program (SCOAP) to combat intimate partner violence.
7. Sources
Supporting research on legal guardianship and child exploitation laws.
“Inside Natalia Grace’s New Life with Family of Little People in New York.” People.
Insights from The Curious Case of Natalia Grace docu-series.