5 Shocking Revelations: What Happened To Natalia Grace And Where Is She Now In 2025?

The bizarre and deeply disturbing case of Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian orphan adopted by an Indiana couple who later claimed she was an adult sociopath masquerading as a child, has captivated and horrified the public for over a decade. As of December 15, 2025, the narrative has shifted dramatically, moving from a sensationalized legal battle to a story of a young woman attempting to reclaim her life and narrative following years of trauma and public scrutiny. The latest updates, including a new docu-series season and a recent magazine cover story, provide the clearest picture yet of Natalia’s true age and her current life with a new family.

The core of the controversy centers on whether Natalia Grace was a neglected child with a rare form of dwarfism, or a dangerous adult woman. Her adoptive parents, Kristine and Michael Barnett, successfully petitioned an Indiana court in 2012 to change her legal age from 8 to 22, effectively making her a legal adult before abandoning her in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. Recent scientific evidence and a new life chapter have provided compelling answers, finally allowing Natalia to share her side of the story and establish a sense of normalcy.

Biography and Key Facts: The Life of Natalia Grace

The story of Natalia Grace is complex, involving international adoption, a rare medical condition, a contentious legal battle, and multiple families. Here is a breakdown of the essential facts and biographical details:

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• Full Name: Natalia Grace
• Place of Birth: Ukraine
• Approximate Birth Year (Current Estimate): 2001 or 2002 (based on 2023 TruDiagnostic test suggesting she was approximately 22 years old). This contradicts the 1989 birth year established by the Barnett’s court petition.
• Condition: Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (a rare bone growth disorder resulting in dwarfism).
• Original Adoption: Adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010 from an international adoption agency. They believed she was 6 years old.
• Legal Age Change: In 2012, the Barnetts successfully petitioned the Tippecanoe County court to legally change Natalia's birth year from 2003 to 1989, making her a 22-year-old legal adult.
• Abandonment: In 2013, the Barnetts moved to Canada, leaving Natalia in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, which led to child neglect charges.
• Key Families: The Barnett Family (adoptive parents, 2010-2013), The Mans Family (unofficial guardians, later adoptive parents, 2014-2024), and The DePaul Family (current guardians, 2024-Present).

The Curious Case: Legal Battles and The Barnett Acquittal

The sensational nature of the case exploded in 2019 when the Barnetts were charged with neglect of a dependent. The prosecution was complicated by the 2012 court order that legally declared Natalia an adult. The entire legal strategy hinged on a single, controversial question: Was Natalia legally a child or an adult when the Barnetts abandoned her?

The Barnetts argued that Natalia was, in fact, an adult who had deceived them. They claimed she threatened them, exhibited signs of mental illness, and was a danger to their biological children, including their son Jake Barnett, a child prodigy. Their defense focused heavily on the alleged 'sociopathic' behavior and the initial court-ordered age change.

Michael Barnett’s Acquittal and Kristine Barnett’s Charges

The legal process saw different outcomes for the former couple, who have since divorced. Michael Barnett was tried first and was acquitted of all charges of child neglect in 2022. The defense successfully ensured that the jury could not consider evidence that would contradict the Indiana court’s 2012 ruling—that Natalia was legally an adult.

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Kristine Barnett, who was facing similar charges, had her case dismissed in March 2023. The charges were dropped because the statute of limitations had expired, a decision that sparked widespread debate about accountability in the case. Many critics felt that, regardless of the legal age, the moral and ethical abandonment of a vulnerable person—whether a child or an adult with dwarfism—went unpunished.

Scientific Evidence and The Reversal of Legal Age

One of the most significant and recent developments in the ongoing saga came in August 2023. A blood test was conducted by the medical lab TruDiagnostic, a company specializing in age-determination through DNA methylation. The results were conclusive: The test indicated that Natalia Grace was approximately 22 years old at the time of the test, meaning she would have been around 9 or 10 years old when the Barnetts abandoned her in 2013.

This scientific finding strongly supports Natalia’s long-held claim that she was a child when she was left to fend for herself. Furthermore, reports indicate that the controversial 2012 Indiana court decision that changed her official birth year to 1989, declaring her an adult, has since been reversed. This reversal is a monumental step in restoring her true identity and legal status as a victim of neglect, not a perpetrator of fraud.

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Where is Natalia Grace Now? Her Life in 2025

The third season of the docu-series, *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*, which aired in early 2025, provided the public with the most current look at her life. After years of instability, Natalia has finally found a stable and supportive environment, though not without further setbacks.

For several years, Natalia was living with the Mans family, who eventually adopted her in 2023. The Manses, who had been a source of stability, were featured prominently in the documentary. However, the 2025 docu-series revealed that Natalia had a significant falling out with her adoptive parents, finding their rules and strictness too overbearing.

A New Home with The DePaul Family

The latest and most positive update confirms that Natalia Grace is currently living in upstate New York with Nicole and Vince DePaul. The DePauls are a couple who also have a form of dwarfism, providing Natalia with a unique and empathetic support system. She reached out to them, feeling a connection with people who could truly understand her physical and emotional challenges.

Living with the DePauls, Natalia is focused on moving forward and building a life on her own terms. She appeared on the cover of *People Magazine* in January 2025, stating her intention to "reclaim her narrative." This marks a pivotal moment where she transitions from being the subject of a true-crime mystery to an individual determined to share her own perspective on the traumatic events.

The ongoing public interest, fueled by the documentary series and her public appearances, continues to highlight the ethical questions surrounding international adoption, the complexity of Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita, and the catastrophic failure of the social and legal systems that left a vulnerable person abandoned. Natalia Grace’s story is a testament to resilience, as she strives to overcome the profound psychological impact of the Barnett saga and forge a hopeful future in 2025.