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Where is Kristine Barnett Now? All About her Tumultuous Life at the Heart of the Natalia Grace Case That Inspired ‘Good American Family’
It’s a story so bizarre it feels like fiction, but for Kristine Barnett, it’s a deeply personal, years-long chapter that turned her world upside down and played out in headlines, courtrooms, and now, on TV screens around the world.
When Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted a young Ukrainian girl named Natalia Grace in 2010, they believed they were opening their home and hearts to a six-year-old child with a rare form of dwarfism. What unfolded over the next decade, accusations, abandonment, legal battles, and documentaries, would become one of the most controversial adoption sagas in recent memory. And Kristine Barnett would find herself cast as either a protective mother or a villain in the eyes of the public, depending on who was telling the story.
Now, with Natalia’s story back in the spotlight thanks to Hulu’s Good American Family and the final season of ID’s The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, questions about Kristine Barnett, her role in the scandal, her current life, and her side of the story are louder than ever.
Why Kristine Barnett Thought Her Adopted Daughter Wasn’t a Child
Natalia Grace with Kristine and Michael Barnett, who adopted her in 2010.
Source: Investigation Discovery
In 2010, Kristine Barnett was already known in parenting and autism advocacy circles. Her son Jacob, diagnosed with autism, had been hailed as a prodigy, and Kristine captured his journey in her 2013 memoir The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism. That same year, she and her husband, Michael, were gaining praise for opening their home to Natalia Grace, an orphan from Ukraine who needed specialised care due to her condition.
But not long after Natalia moved in, Kristine claimed something wasn’t adding up. The child they believed was six or seven, she said, showed signs of being much older, including having pubic hair and adult teeth. Kristine also accused Natalia of erratic and dangerous behaviour, including threats against the family and attempts to harm her younger siblings.
In 2012, the couple petitioned an Indiana court to change Natalia’s legal age from 8 to 22. The court approved the change, and soon after, Kristine and Michael moved Natalia into an apartment on her own, first in Westfield, then Lafayette, before relocating to Canada without her.
Why Kristine and Michael Barnett Faced Criminal Charges and What Happened Next
Natalia Grace.
For years, the strange case quietly faded from public view until 2019, when authorities charged both Kristine and Michael Barnett with multiple counts of neglect. Despite the legal change to Natalia’s age, prosecutors argued that her disability meant she was still a dependent who required care. Natalia, now a young adult, alleged in the courtroom and in interviews that Kristine had abused her physically and emotionally, including pepper-spraying her and coaching her to lie about her age.
Michael Barnett was found not guilty in 2022, while the charges against Kristine Barnett were dismissed in 2023 due to insufficient evidence. But the court of public opinion remained divided, especially as Natalia continued to speak out in subsequent documentary episodes.
Kristine Barnett Maintains Her Innocence But Refuses to Stay Silent
Kristine and Michael Barnett pose with their sons in 2012.
Source: Shutterstock
Kristine Barnett did not participate in the ID docuseries, but she has made her position clear through social media and email statements. She has denied ever abusing or abandoning Natalia, describing the allegations as “just plain false.” In one Facebook post, Kristine referred to Natalia as a “sociopath” who manipulated people’s sympathies, a claim that has only deepened the polarisation around her image.
“The ‘evidence’ presented on the TV show did not go through the courts or any legal standards to be verified as true,” she wrote in a 2024 email, adding that Natalia’s true age was determined by others, not just her and Michael.
From Parenting Advocate to Public Target
Long before the controversy, Kristine Barnett was celebrated for her work with children on the autism spectrum. Her book was a bestseller, and she was a sought-after voice in education circles. But the Natalia Grace saga shifted the spotlight, and not in the way she had once hoped.
In a January 2025 audio conversation, Kristine opened up about how the years-long scandal upended her career. “I’ve been waking up every day for the past five years mourning the fact that my work is gone,” she said. “I hope I get it back.”
Still, she has continued to write. In March 2024, she announced a new memoir titled Witch Hunt: The Kristine Barnett Story, where she promised to share her whole perspective, one she says has been buried beneath sensational headlines.
Are Kristine and Michael Barnett Still in Touch?
Kristine and Michael Barnett filed for divorce in 2014 amid their ongoing marital and legal issues.
Source: Courtesy of ID
Not at all. The couple split in 2014, with Michael filing for divorce shortly after their move to Canada. In the docuseries, Michael accused Kristine of being manipulative and abusive toward both him and Natalia. “I had the same monster you did,” he told Natalia in a powerful face-to-face conversation in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.
Kristine has firmly denied Michael’s claims, insisting on social media that he was shifting blame to protect himself.
Where Is Kristine Barnett Now?
As of June 2025, Kristine Barnett resides in Florida and describes herself as an author, disability advocate, and mother. On Facebook, she remains active, often responding to criticism and sharing updates about her life and writing.
Though she largely avoids press interviews, her online presence reveals a woman still very much engaged in defending her name. “You only wanted to bully a mother,” she wrote in May 2024, calling out what she believes to be performative public outrage.
Whether she’ll ever return fully to the public eye as a speaker or consultant remains to be seen. But Kristine Barnett insists she won’t be silenced and that she’s not the villain many believe her to be.
FAQs
Who is Kristine Barnett? Kristine Barnett is an American author and mother who gained recognition for raising her autistic son, Jacob, who was once hailed as a child genius. She is also known for her controversial adoption of Natalia Grace, which led to a widely publicised legal and media saga.
Did Kristine Barnett really believe Natalia Grace was an adult? Yes. In 2012, Kristine and Michael Barnett successfully petitioned an Indiana court to legally change Natalia’s age from 8 to 22, believing she had lied about her identity.
Was Kristine Barnett convicted of child neglect? No. Though she was charged in 2019 with multiple counts of neglect, all charges against her were dismissed in 2023 due to insufficient evidence.
What happened to Natalia Grace? Natalia now lives with her new adoptive family, the Manses, and has shared her side of the story in the docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace. A DNA test determined she was likely 7 years old when adopted, not 22.
Where is Kristine Barnett today? As of 2025, Kristine lives in Florida and is focused on rebuilding her career as a writer and advocate. She remains vocal about her side of the Natalia Grace case through social media and is working on a second memoir.
