Current:Home > BackNatalia Grace Docuseries: Why the Ukrainian Orphan Is Calling Her Adoptive Mom a "Monster"-VaTradeCoin
Natalia Grace Docuseries: Why the Ukrainian Orphan Is Calling Her Adoptive Mom a "Monster"
View Date:2025-01-09 11:15:47
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! (2788)
Related
- Beyoncé's Grammy nominations in country categories aren't the first to blur genre lines
- The Ultimate Gift Guide for Every Woman in Your Life: Laneige, UGG, Anthropologie, Diptyque & More
- Man featured in ‘S-Town’ podcast shot and killed by police during standoff, authorities say
- Man featured in ‘S-Town’ podcast shot and killed by police during standoff, authorities say
- Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site
- Law enforcement identify man killed in landslide at Minnesota state park
- CVS Health lays out changes to clarify prescription drug pricing that may save some customers money
- 'Wonka' movie review: Timothée Chalamet's sweet take on beloved candyman (mostly) works
- Princess Kate to host annual Christmas carol service following cancer treatment
- Regulators begin hearings on how much customers should pay for Georgia nuclear reactors
Ranking
- The Bachelorette's Desiree Hartsock Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby No. 3 With Chris Siegfried
- Trump seeks urgent review of gag order ruling in New York civil fraud case
- Musician Carl Mueller III fatally stabbed in Philadelphia: 'He was brilliant'
- Oil firms are out in force at the climate talks. Here's how to decode their language
- Jana Duggar Reveals She's Adjusting to City Life Amid Move Away From Farm
- Virginia police investigate explosion at house where officers were trying to serve a search warrant
- At least 6 people have died as heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Michaung hit India’s coasts
- Tallahassee is not OK. 'Robbed' of a college playoff berth, FSU family crushed
Recommendation
-
Tesla issues 6th Cybertruck recall this year, with over 2,400 vehicles affected
-
Kelsey Grammer's BBC interview cut short after Donald Trump remarks, host claims
-
Activists at COP28 summit ramp up pressure on cutting fossil fuels as talks turn to clean energy
-
Virginia home explodes as police attempted to execute search warrant
-
NFL power rankings Week 11: Steelers, Eagles enjoying stealthy rises
-
Mackenzie Phillips' sister Chynna says she's 'proud' of her for revealing father John's incest
-
Jake Browning steals spotlight as Bengals stun Jaguars 34-31 in OT. Trevor Lawrence injures ankle
-
‘That's authoritarianism’: Florida argues school libraries are for government messaging