Current:Home > MarketsNatalia Grace Docuseries: Why the Ukrainian Orphan Is Calling Her Adoptive Mom a "Monster" -Summit Capital Strategies
Natalia Grace Docuseries: Why the Ukrainian Orphan Is Calling Her Adoptive Mom a "Monster"
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:14:08
Natalia Grace is speaking out about her time with the Barnetts.
After the mysterious case of the Ukrainian native—who was adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett in 2010 when she was 6 years old—was previously explored in harrowing detail, she's ready to share her side of the story.
Though the former couple have alleged that Natalia—who has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare genetic disorder—was not a child, but rather a dangerous adult who subsequently attempted to kill them, Natalia has maintained that she was a young girl looking forward to her future when the Barnetts took her in.
But instead, she believes there was ulterior motives behind her adoption from the beginning.
"Kristine said that adopting me was this mission of love and never once did I see any love," Natalia says in an exclusive look at the ID docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks. "I feel like it was a mission of boosting her ego type of thing. I feel like she just wanted people to be like, ‘Oh my goodness, like she's this amazing person.'"
As Natalia further explained, "'She just adopted a little girl from the Ukraine who has dwarfism and has all these different medical issues and everything like that. You know, she's a great mom for wanting to help somebody, right?'"
However, she maintains that her adoptive mom's persona was really a "mask."
"Have this really nice smile, 'I'm a great mom,'" she continues. "But and then it's like, pull that mask off—this is who she really is, like your true colors. Kristine was a monster. I didn't know what she was going to do next."
E! News has reached out to reps for Michael and Kristine Barnett for comment and has not heard back.
In 2012, the Barnetts petitioned a court to change Natalia's birth year from 2003 to 1989, making her 20 years old when they adopted her and accused her of attempting to harm them on several different occasions.
Michael and Kristine subsequently moved with their three sons to Canada, leaving Natalia to live by herself in an apartment in Lafayette, Ind., the following year.
Six years later, Michael and Kristine—who finalized their divorce in 2018—were brought up on charges in connection to their move. Michael was found not guilty on his charges in 2022, while prosecutors dropped their case against his ex-wife this past March.
The latest installment of Natalia's twisted adoption story will take a closer look at the "saga and the Barnetts' allegations from Natalia's perspective," according to a press release from ID, "offering insight into what really went on behind closed doors in the Barnetts' home."
The three-night docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks kicks off Jan. 1 at 9/8c on ID.
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (1365)
Related
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Why the average American family's net worth increased 37% during the pandemic
- Lane Kiffin trolls Auburn with a 'dabbing' throwback to Iron Bowl loss
- Thrift store chain case was no bargain for Washington attorney general; legal fees top $4.2 million
- Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
- Democrat Katrina Christiansen announces her 2nd bid for North Dakota US Senate seat
- Execution of Idaho’s longest-serving death row inmate delayed for sentence review hearing
- This camera revolutionized photography. Whatever happened to the Kodak Instamatic?
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- EU debates how to handle rising security challenges as Israel-Hamas war provokes new concerns
Ranking
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Broad rise in wealth has boosted most US households since 2020 and helped sustain economic growth
- From hospital, to shelter, to deadly inferno: Fleeing Palestinians lose another sanctuary in Gaza
- Florida woman arrested for painting car to look like Florida Highway Patrol car
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- More arrests to be announced in shooting that killed a Philadelphia police officer, authorities say
- Lionel Messi earns $20.4 million under contract with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami
- Eddie George rips Tennessee State football fans for not supporting winning team: 'It hurts the kids'
Recommendation
Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
Joran van der Sloot confesses to 2005 murder of Natalee Holloway in Aruba: Court records
Scott Disick Reveals Why Khloe Kardashian Is His Ideal Woman
Justice Department issues new report aimed at improving police hiring nationwide
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
Kenneth Chesebro rejected plea offer ahead of Georgia election trial: Sources
Amazon is testing drones to deliver your medications in an hour or less
New York governor begins trip in Israel, plans to meet families