The Curious Case Of Natalia Grace: Where Is She Now In 2025? (The Shocking New Family)

The bizarre and highly publicized case of Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian-born orphan with a rare form of dwarfism, has captivated the world for over a decade, and the story continues to take dramatic turns. As of late 2024 and early 2025, new revelations have emerged, confirming that the tumultuous journey of her life is far from over, specifically concerning her most recent adoptive family, the Manses, and a shocking new guardianship arrangement.

The core of the controversy—whether Natalia was a child "sociopath" posing as an adult, or a child abandoned by her adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett—has been the subject of multiple documentaries. The most recent updates, revealed in the third season of the docuseries *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*, confirm that the stability she seemed to find with the Mans family was short-lived, leading to yet another major change in her life.

Natalia Grace: A Biographical Profile and Legal Timeline

The story of Natalia Grace Barnett is one of conflicting narratives, legal battles, and a constant search for a stable home. The central conflict has always hinged on her true age and identity.

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• Full Name at Birth: Natalia Vadymivna Gava (Ukrainian: Наталія Вадимівна Гава)
• Contested Birth Date: September 4, 2003 (as per her birth certificate)
• Contested Legal Birth Date: 1989 (after the 2012 Indiana court order that legally changed her age)
• Place of Birth: Kyiv, Ukraine
• Condition: Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (a rare form of dwarfism)
• First American Adoptive Parents: Dyan and Gary Ciccone (New Hampshire, 2008)
• Second American Adoptive Parents: Kristine and Michael Barnett (Indiana, 2010)
• Third Adoptive Family: Antwon and Cynthia Mans (Adopted in 2023)

The Barnett Family Controversy (2010–2013)

Natalia’s story first gained international attention following her adoption by Michael and Kristine Barnett in 2010. The Indiana couple believed they were adopting a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan.

However, the Barnetts soon began to suspect that Natalia was not a child. They claimed she exhibited adult behaviors, including having adult teeth, menstrual cycles, and making alleged threats against the family. Kristine Barnett famously claimed Natalia was a "sociopath" posing as a child.

In 2012, the Barnetts successfully petitioned an Indianapolis court to legally change Natalia's age from 8 to 22. This re-aging process effectively made her an adult in the eyes of the law. Following the age change, the Barnetts moved to Canada with their three biological sons, leaving Natalia behind in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, to live on her own.

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This abandonment led to criminal charges of neglect against Michael and Kristine Barnett, though both were eventually acquitted of the most serious charges. Michael Barnett was found not guilty of three counts of neglect in 2022, and the charges against Kristine were dropped in 2023.

Natalia’s Search for Stability: The Mans Family Adoption

After being abandoned, Natalia was taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans in 2014. The Mans family, who had a large family of their own, provided a period of relative stability for Natalia. They vehemently defended her, believing her to be a child and contradicting the Barnett family's claims that she was a dangerous adult.

The Manses officially adopted Natalia in 2023. At the time, she expressed immense gratitude, stating that living with the family helped her "learn how to be a mother" as she helped care for their children.

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This adoption seemed to mark a triumphant end to a decade of legal and personal turmoil. Natalia was finally a part of a permanent, loving family, and her legal status as a daughter was secured. Many followers of the case celebrated this apparent happy ending.

The Shocking 2025 Update: The Mans Family Fallout and New Guardianship

The supposed "happy ending" was dramatically overturned with the release of the third installment of the documentary series, *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks*. This January 2025 update revealed a significant and unexpected turn of events: a falling out between Natalia and the Mans family.

The Breakdown of the Adoption:

The documentary revealed that Natalia had a falling out with the Manses, claiming they were too strict. The relationship deteriorated to the point where she left their home. This shocking development meant that after years of legal battles and a successful adoption, Natalia was once again seeking a new place to live and a new family structure.

Where Is Natalia Grace Now? Living with the DePaul Family

The latest and most current information confirms that Natalia is now living with the DePaul family.

Nicole and Vincent DePaul, a couple with dwarfism, are the latest individuals to take Natalia in. Interestingly, the DePauls were friends of the Mans family and had previously attempted to adopt Natalia themselves.

The DePauls, who can relate to Natalia’s physical condition, have become her new guardians. This arrangement, which began around the time of the fallout with the Manses, provides a new chapter in her life. The DePaul family has a unique understanding of the challenges Natalia faces, which may offer the stability and acceptance she has been seeking since her abandonment by the Barnetts.

The Lingering Questions and Topical Authority Entities

The Natalia Grace case remains a complex and emotionally charged story, touching on critical issues like adoption fraud, child neglect, and the reliability of legal age-changing procedures. The public fascination is driven by the sheer uncertainty—was she a victim or a perpetrator?

The current status of Natalia Grace in 2025 places her under the care of the DePaul family, but the core questions of the case continue to be debated:

• The Age Dispute: Despite the court order changing her birth year to 1989, many still believe her birth certificate date of 2003 is accurate, meaning she was a child when abandoned.
• The "Sociopath" Claim: The allegations of psychopathy and threats made by the Barnetts were never fully substantiated in court, and Natalia continues to deny them.
• Legal Recourse: The legal battles involving the Barnetts have concluded with their acquittals, but the ethical and legal implications of the age change remain a point of contention among legal analysts and the general public.

The continuous media coverage, from the initial news reports to the ID and Hulu docuseries, ensures the case of Natalia Grace remains a high-interest topic. The latest updates prove that her life is still in motion, with the DePaul family now representing the newest, and hopefully final, attempt to provide her with a permanent, loving home.

The story serves as a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in international adoption and the devastating consequences when family dynamics break down under extreme circumstances. The world will be watching to see if her life with the DePauls finally brings the peace she has been seeking.