New York, NY – As of February 19, 2025, the saga of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism caught in a web of adoption controversies, has reached a dramatic close with the airing of “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter.” The four-part Investigation Discovery series, concluded in January, reveals fresh twists in her tumultuous life, captivating audiences and reigniting debates over her age, identity, and the families who shaped her story.
- “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter” aired in January 2025, detailing Natalia’s split from adoptive parents Antwon and Cynthia Mans.
- Natalia, now 21, moved to upstate New York to live with the DePaul family after fleeing the Mans household in December 2023.
- Her former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, accused her of being an adult posing as a child—a claim debunked by a 2023 DNA test.
- The series exposes allegations of abuse by the Mans family, though no charges have been filed as of February 2025.
- A Hulu drama, “Good American Family,” inspired by Natalia’s story, starring Ellen Pompeo, premieres March 19, 2025.
From Ukraine to the Spotlight
Natalia Grace arrived in the U.S. in 2008, adopted by the Barnett family in 2010. Born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism, her life took a bizarre turn when Michael and Kristine Barnett claimed she was a dangerous adult masquerading as a 6-year-old. In 2012, they legally changed her birth year from 2003 to 1989 and abandoned her in an Indiana apartment, moving to Canada. A 2023 DNA test later confirmed she was a child at the time, born in 2003, clearing her of the Barnetts’ accusations.
A New Family, Then Chaos
After years of instability, Natalia found refuge with Antwon and Cynthia Mans, who adopted her in 2023. Initially seen as her happy ending, this chapter unraveled in “The Final Chapter.” Six months after her adoption, Natalia fled their Tennessee home in December 2023, alleging isolation and mistreatment. She now lives with Vince and Nicole DePaul in upstate New York, a couple with dwarfism who once tried to adopt her before the Barnetts.
- Natalia claims the Manses held her “hostage,” a charge they’ve not publicly addressed.
- Witnesses in the docuseries allege physical abuse and financial exploitation by the Manses, though no legal action has been taken.
- Natalia began therapy in 2024 after a panic attack, addressing her reactive attachment disorder tied to early trauma.
The Media Frenzy Continues
Natalia’s story has fueled three seasons of “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” with “The Final Chapter” airing January 6-7, 2025, on ID and Max. The series ends with a surprise: Natalia’s PEOPLE magazine cover shoot, where she reflects on her journey. Meanwhile, Hulu’s “Good American Family,” starring Ellen Pompeo as a fictionalized Kristine Barnett, drops March 19, blending fact and drama to retell her tale.
Quote from Natalia Grace (PEOPLE, January 2025):
“Kristine coached me to lie about my age and say I tried to murder my parents. I’m not a liar.”
Timeline of Natalia Grace’s Adoptions:
| Year | Family | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ciccone | Brought to U.S. from Ukraine |
| 2010 | Barnett | Adopted; later abandoned in 2012 |
| 2023 | Mans | Adopted; fled in December 2023 |
| 2024 | DePaul | Moved to upstate New York |
Natalia Grace’s story, from abandonment to media stardom, remains a gripping blend of mystery and resilience. As the docuseries wraps and Hulu’s drama looms, her journey underscores the complexities of adoption and identity. Stay tuned to true crime and entertainment updates to follow how Natalia’s next chapter unfolds—and what it reveals about the families who shaped her path.
