Who is Natalia Grace? What to know about subject of docuseries, ‘Natalia Speaks’
One of the most bizarre cases in true crime continues with the release of a new documentary series.
The case of Natalia Grace Barnett became a national sensation around 2014 when it was reported that a Ukrainian orphan adopted into an Indiana family was accused of actually being an adult. Not only that, but her adoptive parents alleged that she was violent and mentally ill, had admitted to wanting to kill the entire family and was scamming them by pretending to be much younger than her actual age.
Natalia, who has a rare form of dwarfism, and the Barnetts remained in the spotlight during ongoing legal battles after the parents had Natalia's age legally changed and left her in a rented apartment while the rest of the family moved out of the country. Since then, the case has become well-known in pop culture, becoming the subject of an Investigation Discovery (ID) docuseries and oft being compared to the horror movie "Orphan."
In a follow-up to last year's hit documentary, “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace," ID has released a second part to the series which gives viewers a chance to hear things from Natalia's side.
The finale of the six-part docuseries, called “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks" is set to air Wednesday, Jan 3. and includes a long-awaited confrontation between one of the Barnett parents and Natalia.
Who is Natalia Grace and how can you watch the highly anticipated series finale? Here's what we know.
Who is Natalia Grace?
Natalia Grace Barnett is a Ukrainian orphan who was adopted by American couple Kristine Elizabeth Barnett, 45, and Michael Barnett, 43, in 2010. At the time of adoption, the Barnetts believed Natalia to be 6 or 7 years old when they brought her into their Indiana home.
Natalia had been diagnosed with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare genetic disorder that affects the bones and spine and results in a small stature and other skeletal abnormalities. Not long after bringing her home, the Barnetts claimed they began to notice strange things, alleging that Natalia had pubic hair, a menstrual cycle, and a mental illness, all of which they said were signs she was not the age reflected on her birth certificate.
They claimed that Natalia's genetic disorder made her appear far younger than she was and alleged that she was actually a violent adult who was scamming them and putting their family at risk.
As the court cases continued, doctors, DNA evidence, genetic professionals and a Ukrainian woman claiming to be Natalia's biological mother came into play, all in an attempt to determine her age. Today, she is either roughly 34 or 21, depending on which records you reference.
Kristine Barnett charges:Neglect charges based on Natalia Grace Barnett's age dismissed against mom accused of abandoning her in Lafayette
What happened between Natalia and the Barnetts?
The Barnetts petitioned in June 2012 for a Marion County court to alter Natalia's Ukrainian birth records to say she was 22 years old, as opposed to the rough age of 11 years old she was previously believed to be. The court complied and changed her birth year from 2003 to 1989, despite medical reports confirming that Natalia was in fact a child and a lack of solid evidence to prove otherwise.
In July 2013, the Barnetts signed her up for public assistance, moved her into a Lafayette apartment and then moved themselves and their biological kids to Canada where their oldest son planned to attend college.
Natalia was evicted from the apartment in 2014 and the Barnetts were hit with accusations of abandonment and several charges related to the neglect of a dependent. Both the Barnetts, who are now divorced, have denied the claims and the charges have since been dismissed.
'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks'
“The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks" is a follow-up docuseries to the successful first season of "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace," which aired in May 2023.
ID describes the original series as a bizarre family saga about a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia adopted into what appeared to be a normal family.
"Initially, Natalia was adopted by the Barnetts in 2010," said an ID press release. "However, the happy family dynamic soured when Michael and Kristine alleged that Natalia was an adult pretending to be a child and that she intended to harm their family. In 2013, Natalia was discovered living on her own which ignited an investigation that led to Michael and Kristine's arrest and a firestorm of questions. The docuseries featured exclusive interviews with the Barnetts, including father Michael Barnett and brother Jacob Barnett, and other friends who were close to the family."
"Natalia Speaks" is intended as a chance for Natalia to tell her side, according to ID, and answer some of Barnett's allegations and questions.
"Natalia will share her side of the story of what happened behind the closed doors of the Barnett family home and address allegations against her head-on," says ID's series description. "After years of being cloaked under a gag order due to the subsequent legal proceedings around the 2019 arrest of her adoptive parents, Natalia has been unable to tell her story - until now."
Case of Natalia Grace:Docuseries on Ukrainian orphan Natalia and her adoptive parents continues in January
How to watch the docuseries 'Natalie Speaks'
“The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks" is an Investigation Discovery (ID) docuseries available on the ID cable channel or streaming.
The six-part series airs live on the ID Channel on Jan. 1, Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 from 6-9 p.m. PT/9-11 p.m. ET. The two-hour series finale is set to premiere Wednesday, January 3 at 9 p.m. ET
For those without cable, the series is available for streaming via HBO Max and Discovery +. A Max subscription ranges from $9.99 to $19.99 a month and Discovery+ ranges from $4.99 to $8.99 a month. Both can be used via their official websites or included as add-ons DirecTV, Hulu and Prime Video.
