Natalia Grace garnered attention when her adoptive family altered her birthdate to present her as significantly older before placing her in her independent apartment. The adoptive parents, unconvinced of Natalia’s true age and convinced she was a woman in her 20s with harmful intentions towards them and their children, faced neglect charges but were eventually acquitted.
In the ID docuseries “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” Michael Barnett, one of the parents, extensively shared his perspective. However, the spotlight now shifts to Natalia herself in the network’s new 3-night event, “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks.”
To date, TooFab has previewed the initial five episodes of the comprehensive six-part series. The primary focus in Episode 1 is uncovering Natalia’s actual age. The episode delves into medical records from a doctor who examined the orphan shortly after her adoption by the Barnetts in 2010. According to these records, the doctor believed she was between 9 and 11 years old at the time.
Additionally, the series presents X-rays conducted by a dentist shortly after Natalia joined the Barnett family. Despite a neighbor’s assertion that the Barnetts claimed a dentist affirmed Natalia had all her adult teeth, a dentist examining the records disputed this. The dentist pointed out that the X-rays indicated she still had 12 baby teeth, suggesting she was between 6 and 9 years old.
The dentist emphasized, “This is way too many baby teeth to be an adult. You can’t fake teeth coming in like this,” concluding that there was no evidence in the X-rays to support the claim that Natalia could be significantly older.
In the special episode, viewers witness Grace’s compelling journey as she undergoes DNA testing at TruDiagnostic. With just a sample of her blood, the test aims to unveil her true “chronological age.” The results, astonishingly, reveal that she is “closer to 22” years old, a mere two-year difference from her presumed age of almost 20. This revelation shatters the illusion created by her legally-changed birthdate, which would have placed her at 34 years old.
The impact of this discovery is profound, as Grace eloquently expresses her emotions. “This one little piece of paper completely discredits all the lies the Barnetts have told. It’s a game-changer,” she declares with a mix of relief and outrage. “For 12 years, they have been lying through their teeth, and in doing so, they have irreparably damaged a child’s life.” Grace’s words convey the depth of her betrayal, as she reflects on the Barnetts’ attempts to portray themselves as victims while perpetuating a web of deceit. “They deliberately ignored all the evidence pointing to the truth just to maintain this ridiculous lie,” she asserts. “This just proves that I was telling the truth about my age. They knew it, and yet they still did what they did.”
The process of legally changing Grace’s age itself is surrounded by controversy. Instead of relying on concrete evidence such as dental X-rays or comprehensive medical records, the decision was heavily influenced by a report from a family physician who labeled Grace as a “con artist.” However, Grace hints at a potential conflict of interest, insinuating that the physician’s report may have been swayed by his long-standing friendship with the Barnetts. This revelation raises questions about the integrity of the process and the motivations behind altering Grace’s age.
During a tense confrontation captured in the special, Michael, one of the central figures in this complex narrative, refuses to address any inquiries regarding the decision to change Grace’s age. This evasiveness only deepens the intrigue surrounding the motives and actions of the Barnetts. Speculation within the docuseries suggests that the age change to 22 was strategically chosen because it would establish Grace as their dependent, thereby imposing legal and financial responsibilities upon them until she turned 21. This angle adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate story.
Natalia’s adoption by the Barnetts in 2010 through an agency initially presented her as a six-year-old child. However, doubts began to emerge regarding her age, leading to the involvement of the Marion County Superior Court. Ultimately, the court approved the legal change of Natalia’s birth record, indicating that she was born in 1989 instead of 2003. Following this alteration, the Barnetts generously assisted Natalia in setting up her own apartment, demonstrating a desire to provide her with a sense of independence and stability. However, the subsequent arrest and neglect charges leveled against them in 2019 cast a shadow over their actions, raising further questions about their intentions and the complexities of their relationship with Natalia.
In a recent turn of events, Michael was cleared of all four neglect charges he faced on October 27, 2022. Similarly, the charges against Kristine were dismissed in March 2023. These legal outcomes, while significant, do not diminish the lingering impact of the events that unfolded. Both Michael and Natalia make appearances in the ID special, offering their divergent perspectives on the tumultuous events that transpired years ago.v
