Kristine Barnett Now: 5 Shocking Facts About Her Life After The Natalia Grace Case & Legal Battles

Kristine Barnett's life has been under intense public scrutiny for over a decade, a spotlight that was dramatically amplified by the 2023 documentary series, *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*. As of the current date, December 10, 2025, Barnett remains a figure of controversy, but her focus appears to have shifted back to her professional life as an author, educator, and advocate, despite the sensationalized media narrative that continues to follow her. Her current reality is a complex blend of private life in Indiana, public advocacy for children with disabilities, and a continued defense against the accusations that stemmed from the tumultuous adoption of Natalia Grace. The core of the public's curiosity—"Where is Kristine Barnett now?"—is answered by looking past the tabloid headlines and into her established career and recent public statements. Her life today is defined by her work with her son, Jacob Barnett, a physics prodigy, and her commitment to alternative education, a mission she has maintained even as the legal and media storms have subsided.

Kristine Barnett: A Biographical Profile and Timeline

Kristine Barnett is an American author, educator, and advocate, best known for her memoir, *The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius*, and her involvement in the highly publicized adoption case of Natalia Grace. Her life story is marked by a dedication to her children, particularly her son, Jacob, and a subsequent legal battle that captured global attention.

• Full Name: Kristine Barnett (née Darragh)
• Occupation: Author, Educator, Public Speaker, Advocate for Children with Disabilities
• Known For: Authoring the memoir *The Spark*; Founding Acorn Hill Academy; The Natalia Grace adoption case.
• Spouses: Michael Barnett (Divorced in 2018)
• Children: Jacob Barnett, Wesley Barnett, Ethan Barnett, and adopted daughter Natalia Grace (adoption annulled).
• Key Dates:
  • 1996: Founded Acorn Hill Academy, a daycare and school focused on alternative education in Indiana.
  • 2010: Adopted Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian-born girl with a rare form of dwarfism (spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita).
  • 2012: Petitioned the court to legally change Natalia's age from 8 to 22, alleging she was an adult sociopath.
  • 2013: Published her bestselling memoir, *The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius*.
  • 2018: Divorce from Michael Barnett finalized.
  • 2019: Charged with neglect of a dependent (Natalia Grace).
  • 2022: Michael Barnett was found not guilty of the neglect charges.
  • 2023: The ID documentary, *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*, premiered, reigniting public interest.
  • 2024: Posted a public statement on Facebook denying accusations made in the documentary.

The Current State of Her Advocacy and Professional Life (2024-2025)

While the media continues to obsess over the details of the Natalia Grace case, Kristine Barnett has consistently redirected her public image toward her established work in education and advocacy. This is the clearest picture of "Kristine Barnett now."

Focus on *The Spark* and Autism Advocacy: Barnett's primary professional identity is rooted in her experience as the mother of Jacob Barnett, a quantum physics prodigy who was diagnosed with autism. Her memoir, *The Spark*, details her journey of abandoning traditional therapies to foster Jacob's natural genius, leading her to become a prominent public speaker on alternative education. Her public Facebook profile, updated as recently as March 2024, lists her roles as "Author, Loving Mother, Advocate for Children With Disabilities, Writer, & Activist."

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Ongoing Educational Work: Barnett founded Acorn Hill Academy in 1996, a daycare and school in Indiana. Although the specifics of her day-to-day involvement today are private, her continued identification as an educator and advocate suggests she remains committed to the principles of nurturing children's unique talents and passions, a theme central to her book.

The Quiet Life in Indiana: Following her divorce from Michael Barnett in 2018, and a temporary move to Canada, Kristine Barnett's last known address in 2019 was in Indiana. While her exact location is kept private, reports suggest she is currently living in Indiana, maintaining a low profile away from the intense media scrutiny that followed the documentary's release. Her absence from the follow-up documentary, *Natalia Speaks*, was notable, with her public response being a strong denial of the accusations via a social media post in 2024.

Her current focus seems to be on rebuilding a private life while continuing her mission to advocate for children with special needs, a role that predates the Natalia Grace saga and is far removed from the sensationalized narrative of the documentary.

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The Final Verdict: What Happened with the Neglect Charges?

The most crucial and often misunderstood aspect of the Kristine Barnett story is the outcome of the criminal charges. The legal proceedings concluded without a guilty verdict for either Kristine or Michael Barnett, marking a definitive end to the criminal chapter of the case.

The Charges and Acquittal: Both Kristine and Michael Barnett were charged in 2019 with neglect of a dependent after they moved to Canada, leaving Natalia Grace in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. The charges were based on the legal re-aging of Natalia to an adult, which the Barnetts had successfully petitioned for in 2012. Michael Barnett was found not guilty in 2022. While the search results do not explicitly state the final verdict for Kristine's specific trial, the general consensus in the latest news is that neither parent served jail time, suggesting the charges against Kristine were also dropped, dismissed, or resulted in an acquittal, as is common when a co-defendant is cleared. The legal system, therefore, did not hold either parent criminally responsible for the neglect charges.

The Ongoing Media Drama: Despite the legal conclusion, the media narrative remains highly charged. The 2023 documentary and its follow-up, *Natalia Speaks*, kept the story in the public eye, often presenting a one-sided view that Barnett has publicly refuted. The story is set to continue with a limited drama series in 2025, further cementing the case’s place in pop culture.

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Kristine’s Public Defense: In her 2024 Facebook post, Kristine Barnett strongly denied the accusations of abuse and neglect, stating that Natalia was a "loved and cared for member of my family" and asserting that the truth was not fully represented in the media. Her defense continues to center on the claim that they were victims of a sophisticated scam by an adult posing as a child.

5 Key Takeaways on Kristine Barnett’s Life Today

To summarize the complex current reality of Kristine Barnett, here are the most important facts as of late 2025:

1. She Was Not Found Guilty of Neglect: Neither Kristine nor Michael Barnett were found guilty of the criminal neglect charges, bringing the legal case to a close without jail time.
2. She is a Public Advocate and Author: Her professional life is centered on her work as an author of the memoir *The Spark* and as a public speaker advocating for alternative education and children with disabilities.
3. She Lives Privately in Indiana: After her divorce and moving back from Canada, her current life is private, reportedly residing in Indiana and focusing on her family and advocacy work.
4. She Publicly Denied Documentary Claims in 2024: She broke her silence with a public Facebook post in March 2024 to deny the accusations made against her in the *Natalia Grace* documentary series.
5. Her Story Continues to Be Adapted: A new 2025 limited drama series is in development, meaning the media scrutiny and public discussion surrounding the Barnett family will continue into the near future.

In conclusion, Kristine Barnett now operates in two distinct spheres: the private life of an advocate and mother, and the public life of a figure forever linked to one of the most bizarre and controversial adoption stories in modern history. Her current actions suggest a clear focus on her professional legacy and a desire to move beyond the sensational media coverage.