Okay true crime fans listen up! There's a new series on Hulu called Good American Family and trust me you are going to be talking about this one. It is all about the Natalia Grace case a story that is seriously mind-blowing and full of twists you won't see coming.
From Heartwarming Adoption to Shocking Accusations: The Natalia Grace Story Unpacked
So the basic story is this: Indiana couple Kristine and Michael Barnett adopt Natalia Grace a young girl from Ukraine with dwarfism back in 2010. Sounds like a feel-good story right? Wrong. things quickly take a dark turn. The Barnetts start thinking Natalia is not who she says she is. They think she is actually an adult pretending to be a kid.
In Good American Family we see the drama unfold. The Barnetts claim Natalia was dangerous that she tried to poison Kristine and even threatened their other kids. They say she had knives hid in her room and did some seriously creepy stuff. It gets intense.
Fast forward to 2012 and the Barnetts legally change Natalia's age to 22. Then in 2013 they move her into an apartment on her own and take off to Canada with their biological sons. Michael Barnett even said doctors told them Natalia was a sociopath and a con artist claiming they were "all in danger".
Natalia's Side of the Story: Abuse Allegations and a Quest for the Truth in 'Good American Family'
But wait there are two sides to every story and Natalia has her own version of events. She says Kristine abused her. This is a huge part of Investigation Discovery’s documentary series that digs into Natalia's experience with the Barnetts. They explore if Natalia was really a kid who was mistreated or a dangerous adult like the Barnetts claimed.
As you watch Good American Family you will probably be asking yourself the same question everyone else is: was Natalia a child or an adult when she lived with the Barnetts? Well in recent years some key facts have come out that shed light on this mystery.
DNA Test Results and Dental Records: Uncovering Natalia Grace's Real Age in the 'Good American Family' Case
In 2023 a blood test determined Natalia was around 22 years old at the time of the test. This suggests she was likely about nine years old when the Barnetts adopted her in 2010. Natalia says this "throws every single lie that the Barnetts has said right into the trash". She feels it proves she was telling the truth about her age all along.
The ID docuseries also reveals an endocrinologist estimated Natalia's age to be between nine and eleven back in 2010. A dentist who examined Natalia in 2011 found she still had 12 baby teeth. The dentist even alleges Kristine knew Natalia was around 8 or 9 years old.
Legally things are complicated. The Barnetts were charged with neglect but charges related to child neglect were dropped because Natalia’s age had been legally changed to 22. Michael Barnett was found not guilty while charges against Kristine were later dropped.
Natalia Today: A New Legal Age New Family and Finding Freedom After the Barnett Drama
After the 2023 blood test Natalia’s birth year was legally changed back to 2003 making her age 21 in 2025. She was adopted by the Mans family in 2023 but that situation also became difficult. Natalia ended up leaving and is now living with the DePaul family who knew her years ago and wanted to adopt her then.
Nicole DePaul says things are mostly peaceful now but it took time to adjust especially after Natalia left the Mans family. Natalia is focused on moving forward and in a recent interview said she feels "blessed to be alive today". She is learning to live with dwarfism and feels "free".
'Good American Family': Key Events and Twists in the Natalia Grace Story
- 2010 Adoption: Kristine and Michael Barnett adopt Natalia Grace a Ukrainian girl with dwarfism.
- Suspicion and Age Doubts: Barnetts begin to suspect Natalia is older than she claims citing signs of puberty and behavior.
- Accusations of Danger: Barnetts allege Natalia threatened them attempted poisoning and exhibited violent behavior.
- 2012 Age Change: Barnetts legally change Natalia's age to 22.
- 2013 Apartment and Relocation: Barnetts move Natalia into an apartment alone and relocate to Canada.
- Neglect Charges: Barnetts are charged with neglect of a dependent.
- Documentaries and Conflicting Accounts: "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" docuseries explores both Barnett's and Natalia's perspectives.
- 2023 DNA Test: Blood test suggests Natalia was around 9 years old at adoption.
- Legal Reversal: Natalia's birth year legally changed back to 2003.
- New Family: Natalia now lives with the DePaul family.
Is 'Good American Family' Worth Watching? A Deep Dive into a Truly Bizarre True Crime Tale
Good American Family on Hulu is diving deep into this bizarre and complex story. It's inspired by the real drama and explores why there was so much confusion and scrutiny around Natalia's age and identity. Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass star as Kristine and Michael Barnett bringing this unsettling story to life.
If you are fascinated by true crime mysteries especially ones with family drama and shocking twists Good American Family is definitely worth checking out. It's a wild ride into a case where the truth is stranger than fiction and you will be questioning everything until the very end.