Hulu’s crime drama “Good American Family” explores the controversial case of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl with dwarfism adopted by Indiana couple Kristine and Michael Barnett. After adoption in 2010, the couple suspected Natalia was an adult posing as a child due to signs of puberty. They claimed she posed a danger, accusing her of various threats. In 2012, they changed her legal age to 22 and moved away, leaving her in an apartment. A 2023 blood test indicated Natalia was likely around nine when adopted. Accusations of abuse from both parties arose, and Natalia subsequently found a new family, the DePauls.
Natalia Grace in ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” on ID.
Hulu’s latest crime drama, Good American Family, explores the enigmatic story of Natalia Grace—a narrative that has garnered heightened interest since the launch of its first two episodes last week. The series is centered around real-life Indiana couple Kristine and Michael Barnett, who adopted Natalia, a young girl from Ukraine diagnosed with a rare type of dwarfism.
After welcoming Natalia into their family in 2010, Michael and Kristine grew suspicious that she wasn’t who she professed to be. As depicted in the dramatized series on Hulu, they claimed she was, in fact, an adult masquerading as a child, particularly after observing signs of early puberty.
The Barnetts also alleged that Natalia presented a risk to them and their biological children. They asserted that she attempted to poison Kristine’s coffee and even tried to pull her into an electric fence. Furthermore, they said Natalia concealed knives in her room and scattered thumbtacks on the stairs to injure family members.
In 2012, the Barnetts sought a court order to legally change Natalia’s age to 22. The following year, they moved her into an apartment in Lafayette and relocated to Canada with their three sons: Jacob, Wesley, and Ethan. Michael shared with Good Morning America that medical professionals reportedly warned them that Natalia might be a sociopath and a con artist, and that their family was “all in danger.”
In contrast, Natalia has claimed that she experienced abuse from Kristine—a subject examined in Investigation Discovery’s three-part docuseries, which highlights her perspective on the events within the Barnett home. The synopsis of the show also investigates “the veracity of their assertion that Natalia was not a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare genetic disorder, but rather an adult intent on causing harm to them and their children.”
As you watch Good American Family, you may be pondering whether Natalia Grace was a child or an adult during her time with the Barnetts. Recent revelations have provided insights into her actual age during that period.
Was Natalia Grace A Child Or Adult When She Was With The Barnetts?
Natalia Grace in ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” on ID.
In August 2023, a blood test from TruDiagnostic indicated that Natalia was roughly 22 years old at the time of testing. This suggests that she was likely around nine years old when the Barnetts adopted her in 2010.
“This one small piece of paper tosses every lie the Barnetts told into the trash,” Natalia stated in the first episode of Natalia Speaks. “This is monumental. This has been 13 years of just two people continuously lying. They destroyed a child’s life. They portrayed [me] as some horrific monster.”
“It just validates that I was not lying about my age,” she added. “They disregarded everything pointing toward the truth just to construct this absurd lie. They knew the truth and proceeded with their actions regardless.”
The docuseries reveals that an endocrinologist evaluated Natalia in 2010, estimating her age to be between nine and eleven years—information the series claims had been communicated to the Barnetts. Additionally, a dentist interviewed in the docuseries recounted Kristine visiting in 2011 to inquire if he could assess Natalia’s age through her dental examination. After an X-ray, it was discovered that Natalia still had 12 baby teeth.
“When mom and Natalia departed, mom knew Natalia was around 8 or 9,” the dentist claimed in the docuseries.
The Barnetts, who subsequently divorced, faced legal charges totaling six counts of neglect of a dependent and two counts of conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent. Per People, they could not be charged with child neglect since Natalia’s age had been legally altered to 22. In 2022, Michael was acquitted of three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent, while the charges against Kristine were dismissed shortly thereafter.
How Old Is Natalia Grace Now?
Natalia Grace in ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter” on ID.
Following the August 2023 lab test, Natalia’s birth year was legally reverted to 2003, undoing a prior ruling made when the Barnetts sought the change in Indiana court. Consequently, her age is now recorded as 21 in 2025.
Natalia later lived with the Mans family and their 10 children, who legally adopted her in 2023. However, tensions within the household led her to escape in the middle of the night. The ID docuseries contains testimonies from multiple witnesses—including neighbors and friends—who reported witnessing acts of physical abuse against Natalia by the Mans family. According to People, these allegations included whipping her with a belt, slapping her, locking her in a room, and other violent behaviors.
Natalia currently resides with the DePaul family, who had previously expressed interest in adopting her as a child. Nicole DePaul shared with People that while she does not intend to formally adopt Natalia, their cohabitation is generally harmonious, albeit with occasional conflicts.
“Initially, it was challenging because the Mans were still involved. They would frequently call Natalia, trying to lure her back,” Nicole recounted. “We were continuously navigating a delicate balance of not imposing too much. After all, she had just come from an environment dominated by a dictator, so I didn’t want to dictate her actions.”
In her cover story for People, Natalia reflected on her experiences, deeming it a “blessing to be alive today because, when I look back on my 7-year-old self, I should have died.”
She added, “Gaining knowledge about how to manage my dwarfism has been a wonderful journey. I cherish it. Of course, I still yearn for my siblings, but overall, I feel liberated.”
Good American Family is available for streaming on Hulu. Check out the official trailer below.