‘Why did you adopt me?’: Natalia Grace confronts adoptive father Michael Barnett who claims being a 'victim' of 'monster'
LAFAYETTE, INDIANA: Natalia Grace, who was accused of being an adult masquerading as a child by her adoptive parents, confronted her adoptive father, Michael Barnett, in a episode of docuseries.
'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks', which will premiere on Investigation Discovery begining Monday, January 1, features Natalia’s side of the story and her emotional confrontation with Michael.
Natalia questions Michael Barnett’s motive for adopting her
In a teaser clip released by People, Natalia, 33, can be seen asking Michael, “Why are we here Michael?” When he tries to evade the question by saying, “If you’re talking philosophically…”, Natalia cuts him off and demands to know, “Why did you adopt me in the first place?”
Michael, who adopted Natalia in 2010 with his then-wife Kristine Barnett, tells her that there is not a single answer to that question. He then claims that he was a victim of Kristine’s manipulation and abuse, just like Natalia. “What do you mean by you were a victim?” Natalia asks.
“This is not easy,” Michael replies, adding “I had the same monster you did. I was exceptionally controlled and put down and threatened, was minimalized, anything that was who I was was ripped from me and I was guided and instructed to be exactly what she wanted me to be.”
Michael Barnett’s controversial allegations against Natalia Grace
Natalia’s ordeal with the Barnetts was the subject of a previous docuseries 'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace' which aired on ID in May.
The show featured exclusive interviews with Michael and Kristine who alleged that Natalia was not a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare genetic disorder, but rather a homicidal adult intent on harming them and their children.
The Barnetts adopted Natalia who they claimed had a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. They claimed that they soon became suspicious of her age and behavior and that they discovered evidence that she was much older than she claimed.
They also accused her of making threats to kill them, putting bleach in their coffee, and trying to push Kristine into an electric fence. The Barnetts moved to Canada in 2013, leaving Natalia behind in an apartment in Indiana. They were charged with neglect in 2019, but the case was dismissed in 2020.
Natalia, who maintains that she is innocent and was abandoned by the Barnetts, has since found a new adoptive family.
'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks' gives Natalia a chance to tell her truth
The 'The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks' installment of the docuseries aims to give Natalia a voice and a platform to share her perspective on the events that transpired in the Barnetts’ home.
According to an ID press release, the show provides “insight into what really went on behind closed doors in the Barnetts’ home." It also explores “how much truth there actually is to their claim Natalia was not a six-year-old Ukrainian orphan with a rare genetic disorder, but rather a homicidal adult intent on harming them and their children.”
The show also features interviews with Natalia’s new adoptive family, her friends, her medical experts, and her legal team, who support her and vouch for her age and innocence. Natalia hopes that by speaking out, she can clear her name and move on with her life. In a previously released clip she said, "I am not a monster."
