The Shocking Truth: How Old Was Natalia Grace REALLY When The Barnetts Abandoned Her? (Updated 2025)

The question of "How old was Natalia Grace?" has fueled one of the most bizarre and contentious true-crime sagas of the 21st century. The controversy, which exploded into the public consciousness with the release of the documentary *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*, centers on whether the Ukrainian orphan was a six-year-old child with a rare form of dwarfism or, as her adoptive parents claimed, a sinister adult sociopath masquerading as a minor. As of today, December 23, 2025, the definitive answer, backed by scientific evidence and her original birth certificate, paints a clear picture of a child victimized by a shocking legal maneuver. The heart of the case lies in the 2012 Marion County Probate Court ruling that legally changed Natalia’s age from eight to 22, effectively changing her birth year from 2003 to 1989. This legal change allowed her adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, to move her into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and leave the country, leading to allegations of child neglect and abandonment. The most recent, crucial piece of evidence—a DNA test—has finally settled the debate, confirming Natalia’s long-held claim that she was, in fact, a child when the Barnetts sought to have her declared an adult.

Natalia Grace Barnett: Essential Biography and Timeline

Natalia Grace, whose birth name is Natalia Vadymivna Gava, was born in Ukraine and has a rare bone disorder called Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (SEDc), which causes short stature and skeletal abnormalities. Her life story is a complex web of adoption, legal battles, and media scrutiny.

• Full Name: Natalia Vadymivna Gava (Legally Natalia Grace Barnett)
• Date of Birth (Original/Confirmed): September 4, 2003
• Confirmed Age (As of December 23, 2025): 22 years old
• Alleged Date of Birth (2012 Court Order): 1989 (Age changed to 22)
• Place of Birth: Mykolaiv, Ukraine
• Condition: Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (SEDc)
• First Adoption: Adopted by the Barnett family (Michael and Kristine Barnett) in 2010 from a Ukrainian adoption agency.
• Key Event: In 2012, the Barnetts successfully petitioned the Marion County Probate Court to legally change her age from 8 to 22.
• Current Status: Living with her new adoptive family, Cynthia and Antwon Mans.

The Definitive DNA Test: Science Settles the Age Controversy

For years, the public debate raged: Was Natalia Grace a victim of abandonment or a master manipulator? The Barnetts’ narrative, which they presented to the court and later to the media, alleged that Natalia was a "sociopath" who threatened their lives, claiming her small stature was a façade for an adult woman. They pointed to her adult teeth and limited growth as evidence of her true, older age. However, this narrative was definitively challenged by scientific evidence. In a pivotal moment chronicled in the documentary *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks* (Season 2), Natalia underwent a DNA test in August 2023. This test was conducted by a medical lab using advanced age-estimation techniques. The results were conclusive: the DNA test estimated that Natalia was approximately 22 years old at the time of the test. This finding is monumental. If Natalia was around 22 in August 2023, it means her actual birth year is indeed around 2001-2003, which aligns perfectly with her original Ukrainian birth certificate date of September 4, 2003. Crucially, this means that when the Barnetts petitioned the court in 2012 to change her age to 22, Natalia was only about 9 years old. The DNA test scientifically refuted the Barnetts' core claim that she was an adult woman posing as a child, solidifying her status as a minor who was legally abandoned.

The Curious Case of Abandonment and Legal Fallout

The adoption saga began in 2010 when Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia, believing she was a six-year-old child with a form of dwarfism. The relationship quickly soured, leading to the Barnetts’ successful 2012 petition to the Marion County court to have her age legally changed. They then moved her into an apartment and left the country, a move that later led to criminal charges. The legal fallout from the age change and subsequent alleged abandonment has been extensive, capturing global attention as a bizarre true crime story.

The Abandonment and Criminal Charges

The Barnetts, after the 2012 court order, moved Natalia into a rental property in Lafayette, Indiana, and then relocated to Canada with their three biological sons. They were later charged with neglect of a dependent, based on the argument that despite the court-ordered age change, they knew she was a child. The defense centered on the claim that Natalia was a dangerous adult. * Michael Barnett: Michael was found not guilty of three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect in 2022. * Kristine Barnett: The charges against Kristine were dropped in 2023. Despite the criminal charges being dismissed, the public and media scrutiny has remained intense, driven by the documentary series and the chilling nature of the allegations. The legal age change, while scientifically debunked by the DNA test, still stands as a legal fact in the state of Indiana, creating a complex legal paradox for Natalia.

Natalia’s New Life and Current Status in 2025

After the abandonment, Natalia was eventually taken in by Cynthia and Antwon Mans, a family who also have a form of dwarfism. Natalia has expressed deep gratitude and a sense of belonging with the Mans family, who she considers her true family. The second season of the documentary, *Natalia Speaks*, gave Natalia a platform to share her side of the story, accusing the Barnetts of both physical and emotional abuse. Her account, combined with the scientific certainty of the DNA test, has largely shifted public opinion in her favor, portraying her not as a dangerous adult but as a child who endured a profound trauma. As of late 2025, Natalia Grace is 22 years old, navigating adulthood with the Mans family and continuing to share her story. The scientific confirmation of her age provides closure to the central question of the case, revealing that when the Barnetts sought to change her birth year to 1989, she was a 9-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a disability, not a 22-year-old adult. The enduring legacy of the Natalia Grace age controversy is a cautionary tale about the complexities of adoption, the failures of the legal system, and the power of scientific evidence to uncover the truth.

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