Natalia Barnett is a Ukrainian-born individual who gained notoriety in the media for being reported as a child prodigy with an exceptionally high IQ and for being at the center of a court case and custody battle in the United States.
However, in later developments, it was revealed that Natalia was an adult with a rare form of dwarfism posing as a child. Eventually, the story of her being a child prodigy was untrue. Intriguing right? To know more about Natalia Barnett, continue reading!
The Adoption Of Natalia Barnett
The adoption of Natalia Barnett became a subject of concern because of the circumstances surrounding her age and living situation. Natalia was originally believed to be an adult with dwarfism, but it was later revealed that she might be a minor with a neurodevelopmental disorder.
This information led to questions about the validity of the adoption process and raised concerns about her welfare and the intentions of her adoptive parents.
Kristine Barnett’s Views On Adopting A Dwarf Unintentionally
Kristine Barnett has always desired to have a big family. The autistic prodigy Jake was one of her and Michael’s biological children, but they also wanted to grow their family through adoption.
As a result, both were overjoyed to learn in May 2010 that an adoption agency in Florida had a young girl in need of a home. They went from Indiana to Florida in less than a day, met Natalia Grace for the first time, and welcomed her into their family immediately.
Natalia Grace would require additional care, according to Kristine, who felt this. The girl has an uncommon form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Kristine, however, felt up to the task because she had experience working with Jake and managing a daycare centre.
According to Kristine Barnett, Natalia Grace had adult teeth and pubic hair. Additionally, Natalia Grace also came out as getting more aggressive. She also allegedly threatened to stab the family as they slept and once poured bleach in Kristine’s coffee, according to Kristine in an interview.
According to Kristine, she would express her desire to kill family members by wrapping them in blankets and dumping them in the backyard.
A further assertion made by Kristine was that Natalia was an adult based on her bone density. She continued by saying that Natalia never grew; she is a dwarf. The Barnetts were now certain that they had unintentionally invited a deranged adult dwarf into their home.
How Kristine And Michael Barnett Got Natalia Grace Out Of Their Lives
Kristine and Michael Barnett were the adoptive parents of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl who was diagnosed with a form of dwarfism. In 2013, the Barnetts moved from Indiana to Canada but left Natalia behind in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, claiming she was an adult who had attempted to kill them.
The Barnetts were charged with neglect in September 2019, but those charges were later dismissed because the statute of limitations expired. The case has been widely reported in the media and is still the subject of ongoing legal proceedings and public debate.
Who Was The Real Victim Of Natalia Barnett?
Natalia Grace was born on September 4, 2003, which would have made her nine years old in 2012 when Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted her. The Barnetts have claimed that Natalia was an adult pretending to be a child. Still, this claim has been disputed by medical experts who have examined her medical records and growth patterns.
As for who the real victim is, it depends on one’s perspective. Natalia’s supporters argue that she was a vulnerable child who was neglected and abandoned by her adoptive parents.
At the same time, the Barnetts claim that they were the victims of a fraudulent adoption scheme. Ultimately, the truth of the situation is a matter of ongoing legal and public dispute, and the facts will likely be determined in a court of law.
Natalia’s Views About The Barnetts And The Manses
Natalia talked openly about her situation with the Barnetts during her 2019 interview with Dr. Phil. She refuted Kristine’s allegations that Natalia was a danger to the Barnett family. Natalia added that she never expressed threats to knife them or do them harm in any other way.
Natalia claims that she was eight years old in 2013 when the Barnett family emigrated to Canada. She described what it was like to live alone, saying she remained on canned food for almost a year.
Natalia continued by saying that Kristine had requested her to tell people that she was 22 years old if anyone asked. She appeared on the chat show alongside Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans, now her family members.
The Manses applied to be her legal guardians in 2016, but it is still being determined when they first took her in. Her year of birth is legally regarded as 1989, not 2003. Therefore they were compelled to withdraw the petition.
The Final Words
Natalia resides in Indiana as of 2021 with the Manses and their five children. The Manses are doing their best for Natalia, but obstacles keep getting in their way, according to a family acquaintance. The Manses have made it known that Natalia has never been a danger to them.
