• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content

Home> News

Updated 13:19 31 May 2023 GMT+1Published 18:38 7 May 2023 GMT+1

Father who adopted 'child' that turned out to be 22-year-old breaks down with rage

Michael and Kristine Barnett have opened up about their traumatic adoption story with Natalia Grace

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

A father who adopted a 'child' that turned out to be a 22-year-old woman has broken down in a full-on fit of rage.

The man, whose family adopted who they thought was a Ukrainian child with dwarfism back in 2010, later claimed that she was an 'adult sociopath masquerading as a child'.

In a new documentary covering all the details behind the bizarre and harrowing case, the dad uncontrollably cries and punches the floor in a crazed fury screaming that his family were 'all abused' by her.

Advert

Michael Barnett has appeared in a brand-new trailer for the upcoming documentary series, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which is set to hit our screens later this month on 29 May.

The three-part series follows the likes of Michael and his wife, Kristine, who first adopted Natalia Grace back in 2010 under the impression they were welcoming a six-year-old child into their home.

"She tried to poison and kill my wife."
Investigation Discovery

However, suspicions started to raise after the couple claimed Natalia grew violent and threatened the family's lives.

The parents said that Natalia 'threatened to stab' their children while living with them in Layfette, Indiana.

Advert

"She tried to poison and kill my wife," Michael continued, "one night, I opened my eyes and Natalia is standing at the foot of the bed with a knife in her hand."

Their biological son, Jake, also corroborated such claims, stating: "I definitely didn't feel safe around Natalia."

After such reports, the family then began to grow doubtful over Natalia's identity and suspected that she was actually an adult illegally posing as a child.

Michael and Kristine decided to take action and petitioned a probate court to amend Natalia's official birth year back 14 years.

The petition was granted back in 2012, which legally changed Natalia's age from just nine years old to 23.

Advert

After that, the family decided to take off to Canada and left the 23-year-old back to fend for herself in Layfette after giving her her own apartment.

But this was by no means the end to the ordeal as the Barnetts were subsequently landed with some pretty serious neglect charges for allegedly abandoning a child.

"We were all abused! I hate this!"
Investigation Discovery

However, Michael and Kristine pushed back and instead claimed they were victims of fraud.

Now, the parents are able to tell their side of the story and they haven't held back.

Advert

Michael, who was only recently acquitted of the neglect charges, warned viewers in the action-packed trailer that they would be getting the 'truth' about the high-profile case but they 'might not like the truth.'

He can also be seen visibly shaken as he violently slammed his fists into the ground after opening up about the traumatic situation with his adoptive daughter.

The clip sees the man wailing: "We were all abused! I hate this!"

The first part of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace will be available to watch on on Investigation Discovery later this month on 29 May.

Featured Image Credit: HBO

Topics: Crime, Documentaries, HBO, Parenting, TV and Film, US News, Weird, Natalia Grace

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Dramatic footage shows four-year-old’s haunting five-word statement that solved 30-year-old-murder
  • UK actor cast to play Natalia in series about real-life adopted ‘child’ who turned out to be 22-year-old woman
  • 22-year-old woman who posed as 'child' says she 'thought she'd found the right family'
  • Tragic story of Poltergeist actress murdered aged 22 as she’s discussed in new Netflix Monsters series

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Why people get strange white bumps all over their body including private parts

    If you've noticed white bumps on your body and private parts, you've come to the right place

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Why most expensive item in the world is worth £49,000,000,000,000 for just one gram

    The most expensive item in the world is said to be worth roughly £49 trillion per gram

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    US Air Force shares truth behind 'highly unusual' flight from Donald Trump's 'doomsday plane'

    The doomsday plane was spotted in American skies this week and an explanation has finally been given

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Woman explains why she lives in same house with her husband, ex-partner and their kids in bizarre situation

    A mum is living in a South Carolina home with her children, her ex-husband and her current husband

    News