5 Chilling Facts About The True Story Behind 'The Orphan'—And The Latest Twist In The Natalia Grace Case

The 2009 psychological horror film *Orphan*, starring Isabelle Fuhrman as the terrifying Esther, is a movie that chills audiences to the bone. The shocking twist—that the seemingly innocent nine-year-old girl is, in fact, a 33-year-old woman with a rare hormonal disorder—is so bizarre it seems entirely fictional. However, as of December 13, 2025, the truth is far more complex and involves two separate, equally disturbing real-life cases: the original inspiration, Barbora Skrlova, and the highly publicized, modern comparison, Natalia Grace, whose story has seen fresh, dramatic legal and personal updates in the last few years.

The original movie’s premise—an adult posing as a child—is loosely based on a European criminal case, but the recent, sensational story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan with a form of dwarfism adopted by an Indiana couple, has become the new, chilling parallel in the true-crime world. This article breaks down the facts of both stories and provides the most current information regarding Natalia Grace’s life and the legal fallout from her adoption.

The Original Inspiration: The Shocking True Story of Barbora Skrlova

While the character Esther is pure fiction, the core concept of an adult woman with a child-like appearance deceiving a family is directly inspired by the Czech criminal known as Barbora Skrlova. Her story, which unfolded in 2007, is arguably more twisted and bizarre than the film itself.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

• The Disorder: Barbora Skrlova was born with a condition called hypopituitarism, which is a rare endocrine disorder that causes a decrease in the production of somatotropin (growth hormone). This gave her a child-like appearance that she exploited for criminal purposes.
• The Kuřim Case: Skrlova became a central figure in the notorious "Kuřim case" in the Czech Republic, a shocking child abuse and cult scandal involving two sisters, Klára and Kateřina Mauerová. Skrlova, who was 33 years old at the time, posed as a 13-year-old girl named "Anička" and lived with the family, actively participating in the abuse of Klára’s sons.
• The Escape and Deception: When the abuse was discovered, Skrlova escaped Czech authorities and fled to Norway, where she successfully posed as a 13-year-old boy named "Adam." She was eventually discovered and deported back to the Czech Republic to face justice.
• Direct Movie Link: The movie *Orphan* (2009) and its prequel *Orphan: First Kill* (2022) use the premise of an adult woman who has a form of dwarfism or hypopituitarism, allowing her to masquerade as a child to manipulate and terrorize her adoptive families. Esther’s fictional identity, Leena Klammer, who is a patient from the Saarne Institute in Estonia, is a direct nod to the real-life deception.

The Modern Parallel: The Curious Case of Natalia Grace

In the years following *Orphan*'s release, a new, highly publicized true story emerged that drew immediate comparisons to the movie: the adoption of Natalia Grace. This case, which has been the subject of multiple docuseries like *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace* and *Good American Family*, has captivated and divided the public with its constant twists and turns.

Natalia Grace: A Brief Profile

• Origin: Ukrainian orphan.
• Condition: Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism that affects bone growth.
• Adoption: Adopted in 2010 by Michael and Kristine Barnett of Indiana.
• The Core Allegation: The Barnett family claimed that Natalia, who they believed to be a child, was actually an adult sociopath posing as a child with the intent to harm them. They pointed to adult behavior, alleged threats, and physical signs of maturity.
• Legal Action: In 2012, the Barnetts successfully petitioned an Indiana court to have Natalia's age legally changed from 8 years old to 22 years old. They subsequently moved to Canada, leaving Natalia alone in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana.

The Legal Fallout and Shocking Trial Outcomes (Latest Updates)

The Barnetts' decision to leave Natalia led to criminal charges. The legal battles that followed have been the source of the most recent and significant updates in this case, finally bringing some form of closure—though not resolution—to the long-running saga.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

Michael Barnett’s Trial:

• The Charges: Michael and Kristine Barnett were charged with neglect of a dependent for abandoning Natalia.
• The Key Ruling: During Michael Barnett’s 2022 trial, the judge made a crucial decision: the court would not allow the defense to present evidence about the 2012 legal age change. This meant the jury was not permitted to hear the Barnetts’ core defense—that they had left an adult, not a child.
• The Verdict: Michael Barnett was acquitted of all charges in 2022.

Kristine Barnett’s Case:

• The Outcome: Following Michael’s acquittal, the state prosecutor decided to drop all charges against Kristine Barnett in 2023. This effectively ended the criminal proceedings against the Barnett family related to the neglect charges.

The legal outcome, while clearing the Barnetts of criminal neglect, did little to resolve the public debate over Natalia’s true age and whether she was a manipulative adult or a neglected child. The answer to her age, however, would come from a non-legal source.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

Natalia Grace’s True Age Revealed and Where She Is Now

The most compelling and recent information comes from new evidence presented in the final chapters of the docuseries, which appears to confirm Natalia’s side of the story and provides an update on her current life.

The DNA Testing Revelation:

• The Test: In a bid to finally settle the age debate, Natalia underwent a specialized DNA test by a medical lab called TruDiagnostic.
• The Result: The DNA test results indicated that Natalia was approximately 22 years old as of the time of the test.
• The Implication: Given that the test was conducted recently, the results strongly suggest that Natalia was indeed a child—around 9 years old—when the Barnetts adopted her in 2010 and when they had her age legally changed in 2012. This new scientific evidence directly contradicts the Barnett family’s claims that she was an adult sociopath.
• Legal Restoration: Her date of birth has since been legally restored to her original 2003 birth year.

Natalia’s Life Today:

• Since 2023, Natalia Grace has been living in upstate New York with Nicole and Vince DePaul.
• The DePauls are a couple who also have dwarfism, and they reached out to Natalia after her story gained widespread media attention.
• She has appeared on the *Good American Family* docuseries, where she has shared her side of the story and her life with her new family.
• Her current life with the DePauls appears to be stable, offering her a supportive environment where she is accepted for who she is.

The story of "The Orphan" is a perfect example of how true crime can mirror horror fiction. While the film was inspired by the twisted case of Barbora Skrlova, the recent, highly-publicized saga of Natalia Grace has provided a modern, real-life parallel that is arguably more complex and emotionally fraught. With the DNA evidence and legal outcomes now on the record, the full picture is beginning to emerge: a story of a vulnerable Ukrainian orphan whose identity became the center of a national media firestorm, but who has finally found stability and acceptance in her adult life.