The Three Families: Where Is Natalia Grace Now And The Shocking Final Verdicts Of Her Adoptive Parents?

The tumultuous and often terrifying story of Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian-born orphan with a rare form of dwarfism, has captivated the world for over a decade, but the truth about her adoptive parents and her current life in December 2025 is more complex than ever. Initially adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett, who infamously accused her of being a sociopathic adult posing as a child, Natalia’s journey has involved multiple families, a dramatic legal battle, and two major docuseries that have kept the controversy at the forefront of public discussion. The most recent updates reveal a dramatic split from her second adoptive family and a final, definitive resolution to the criminal charges against her first parents.

The saga is a chilling example of a modern-day psychological thriller, raising profound questions about the ethics of adoption, parental neglect, and the true identity of a young woman caught in a maelstrom of conflicting narratives. The legal and personal fallout for Michael and Kristine Barnett has been immense, while Natalia herself has finally found stability with a third, unexpected family in upstate New York.

The Barnett Family: Michael and Kristine Barnett's Biography and Legal Outcomes

Michael and Kristine Barnett, the Indiana couple who first brought Natalia into the spotlight, faced years of legal scrutiny and public condemnation after they successfully petitioned a court to change Natalia's legal age from 8 to 22 in 2012, before moving to Canada and leaving her to fend for herself. The following is a breakdown of their profiles and the final results of their high-profile criminal cases.

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• Kristine Barnett:
  • Role in Case: Primary accuser, claiming Natalia was an adult sociopath who threatened their family, including their son, Jacob Barnett.
  • Background: Author of *The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius and Autism* (about Jacob).
  • Criminal Charges: Charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent in 2019.
  • Legal Outcome: Charges were dismissed in March 2023. The court found insufficient evidence to prove the charges of neglect beyond a reasonable doubt.
  • Current Status: Divorced from Michael Barnett; she did not serve jail time.
• Michael Barnett:
  • Role in Case: Co-adoptive parent, later supported Natalia's claims of being a child.
  • Criminal Charges: Charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent in 2019.
  • Legal Outcome: Found not guilty and acquitted in October 2022 after a jury trial.
  • Current Status: Divorced from Kristine and later remarried, though that marriage reportedly did not last. He did not serve jail time.
• The Age Controversy: Despite the Barnetts' claims, Natalia's legal date of birth was eventually restored to 2003, confirming she was a minor when they abandoned her. An August 2023 DNA test estimated her age to be about 22 at the time of the test, which, ironically, would make her about 10 years old when the Barnetts had her age legally changed in 2012.

The Mans Family: A Second Adoption and a Sudden Break

After the abandonment by the Barnetts, Natalia's life took a positive turn when she was taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans in Indiana. The Mans family provided a home and stability, and their relationship appeared to be a beacon of hope for Natalia, who has a form of dwarfism. The family was featured prominently in the docuseries *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*, which chronicled the ongoing legal battles and Natalia's attempts to rebuild her life.

In a significant development, the Manses officially adopted Natalia in 2023. Natalia publicly expressed her gratitude, stating that living with the family helped her "learn how to be a mother" by assisting with the care of the Mans' children.

However, the stability was short-lived. Recent updates, particularly those emerging from the Investigation Discovery docuseries, indicate that the relationship deteriorated rapidly. Just six months after the formal adoption, the situation reportedly went "downhill." The Mans family, particularly Cynthia Mans, was accused of being too strict, leading to a dramatic split. The most recent reports suggest Natalia ultimately cut off the Mans family entirely, leaving their home to seek a new, more supportive environment.

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Natalia Grace Today: The DePaul Family and Her New Life in 2025

The latest, and perhaps most encouraging, chapter of Natalia Grace's life involves her third set of adoptive figures: the DePaul family. After leaving the Mans family, Natalia reached out to her friend Nicole DePaul.

The DePaul family, consisting of Nicole and Vincent DePaul, are a couple who both have dwarfism, providing Natalia with a unique and understanding support system. Remarkably, the DePauls had actually attempted to adopt Natalia years earlier, in 2009, but were unable to due to circumstances at the time. They live in upstate New York and have a daughter named Mackenzie.

This living arrangement marks a significant shift, placing Natalia in a home where she is surrounded by people who share her physical condition, allowing for a deeper level of empathy and shared experience regarding her dwarfism and the challenges of living as a little person.

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A Focus on the Future: GED, Career, and Personal Life

In 2025, Natalia is focused on building a stable future. She is currently living with the DePauls and pursuing her educational goals.

• Education and Career: Natalia is actively studying for her GED (General Educational Development) and has expressed a strong desire to become a teacher.
• Personal Interests: She is learning to drive and enjoys listening to artists like Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, indicating a typical young adult life away from the intense media spotlight.
• Stability: The DePauls are described as a supportive family, offering the unconditional love and stability that Natalia has desperately sought since immigrating from Ukraine.

The move to the DePauls, a family of little people, has been transformative. It provides a community and a sense of belonging that was absent in her previous, highly volatile adoptive family situations. The Barnetts' accusations of her being an adult sociopath, which led to the legal change in her age, have been largely discredited by the restoration of her birth year, confirming she was a vulnerable child who was abandoned. While the criminal cases against Michael and Kristine Barnett have concluded without jail time for either, the public narrative, heavily influenced by the docuseries and the shocking details of neglect, continues to define their legacy.

Ultimately, the story of Natalia Grace is one of resilience. She has navigated a complex web of legal battles, public scrutiny, and multiple failed adoptions. Now, living with Nicole and Vincent DePaul, she appears to be finally moving past the sensationalism of her past and focusing on a normal, healthy life, proving that the Ukrainian orphan at the center of the scandal is, in fact, a young woman determined to define her own future.