Yahoo Lifestyle Final Chapter of ID's Natalia Grace Series Promises 'New Set of Challenges and Upheavals'
Natalia Grace was accused of trying to kill her adoptive parents
Investigation Discovery/YouTube
Natalia GraceThe saga of Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian orphan who was accused by her adoptive American parents of trying to kill them, continues.
The final chapter of Natalia’s saga, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter, which premieres in January 2025 on ID, comes after last season’s eleventh-hour plot twist: Grace had appeared to achieve a happy ending with her new adoptive family, but the closing minute of the revealed that her new parents, Antwon and Cynthia Mans, had also soured on Natalia. (An exclusive trailer of the new season is shown below.)
“Something ain't right with Natalia. This girl is tweaking," Antwon claimed to show producers in a voiceover. "I feel like she's the enemy in the house. And she said to us, we have held her hostage. Made us look like we're the enemy."
"She's done other things too, but this was a new low," Antwon continued. "Natalia does not have emotions for nothing but herself. We're done. We're done with her."
The new season “dives back into Natalia’s story as she faces a new set of challenges and upheavals from a dramatic rescue mission to new allegations of abuse,” according to an ID press release.
The show offers “a conclusion to Natalia’s story as she strives for healing and resolution in her tumultuous journey filled with decades of unexpected twists and turns.”
Related: DNA Test Seemingly Confirms Natalia Grace's Real Age: 'They Knew It'
Natalia was adopted by Indiana couple Michael and Kristine Barnett from the Ukraine in 2010. After adopting her, Michael and Kristine claimed they became suspicious of her age, leading to accusations that Natalia, who has a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, was merely posing as a child — and was really an adult woman with sinister intentions.
The Barnetts claimed that Natalia tried to poison Kristine's coffee and kill her by dragging her towards an electric fence and accused her of placing clear thumb tacks on the stairs face up so that they would step on them.
Investigation Discovery/YouTube
Natalia GraceIn 2012, the Barnetts petitioned Marion County Probate Court in Indiana to have Natalia's age legally changed to 22 — a year before the couple moved to Canada without her. The show, however, includes DNA tests indicating that Natalia was around 9-years-old when the family adopted her and not an adult as they suspected.
In 2013, Natalia reportedly met Cynthia Mans after the Barnetts moved her into an apartment in Lafayette, Ind. Cynthia invited Natalia to move in with them just days after their first meeting.
In 2016, the Mans petitioned to become Natalia’s legal guardians; however, a hearing was required to determine whether Natalia was a minor or a legal adult. After a judge maintained that Natalia was legally an adult, the Mans dropped the guardianship petition — but Natalia continued to live with the family.
In 2019, the couple appeared alongside Natalia on Dr. Phil, reaffirming to Dr. Phil that she was a minor and had never exhibited any violent behavior towards anyone in their family. Cynthia also testified on Natalia’s behalf in 2022 at Michael Barnett’s trial.
Natalia was adopted by the Mans family in 2023.
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Following the finale episode of the show and the plot twist, Natalia posted to Instagram a short update, where she revealed she is “doing well.” But she said she wasn't able to say much more due to having to "keep things confidential for now" because of an agreement she'd signed with ID.
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter premiers in January 2025 on ID.
