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5 Shocking Updates On Natalia Grace: Is The 'Orphan' Subject Finally An Adult In 2025?

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The notorious and deeply unsettling case of Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian-born orphan at the center of a decade-long age controversy, continues to capture global attention, with new revelations emerging as recently as late 2024 and early 2025. The core question that fueled a true-crime docuseries and a massive legal battle—*Is Natalia Grace an adult?*—has been definitively answered, though her journey is far from over. As of December 2025, the legal and scientific consensus confirms her status, contrasting sharply with the sensational claims made by her former adoptive parents.

The saga, which began with a seemingly routine adoption and spiraled into accusations of fraud, neglect, and even attempted murder, has seen a final chapter of the documentary series air, bringing new light to her current life and legal standing. This article dives into the essential, up-to-date facts about Natalia's age, her legal battles, and her surprising new living situation after the fallout with her second adoptive family.

The Definitive Biography and Timeline of Natalia Grace

The life of Natalia Grace is a complex tapestry woven with international adoption, a rare medical condition, and a highly publicized legal dispute. Understanding her background is crucial to grasping the magnitude of the age controversy.

  • Full Name (Current Legal): Natalyah Grace Renee Mans (formerly Natalia Vadymivna Gava, and briefly Natalia Barnett).
  • Date of Birth (Legally Restored): September 4, 2003.
  • Current Age (as of December 2025): 22 years old.
  • Place of Birth: Ukraine.
  • Medical Condition: Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita (a rare form of dwarfism that affects bone growth and can impact joint mobility).
  • 2010: Adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in Indiana.
  • 2012: The Barnetts successfully petition a Marion County Superior Court to legally change Natalia's age from 8 to 22, altering her birth year to 1989. This ruling legally declared her an adult.
  • 2013: The Barnetts move to Canada, leaving Natalia behind in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, based on their claim that she was a dangerous adult.
  • 2014: Natalia is taken in by the Mans family, Cynthia and Antwon Mans.
  • 2019: Michael and Kristine Barnett are charged with multiple counts of neglect of a dependent.
  • 2022: Michael Barnett is acquitted of the neglect charges. Kristine Barnett's charges are later dropped.
  • 2023: The Mans family officially adopts Natalia.
  • 2024: A DNA test reveals Natalia was approximately 9 years old when the Barnetts claimed she was 22, confirming her real birth year.
  • Late 2024: Natalia separates from the Mans family.
  • 2025: The final chapter of the Investigation Discovery (ID) docuseries airs, and Natalia is confirmed to be living with the DePaul family.

The Shocking Truth: Is Natalia Grace a Legal Adult Now?

The short answer is unequivocally yes, Natalia Grace is an adult. However, the crucial distinction is *when* she became an adult versus *when* she was legally declared one, and the devastating impact of that change.

The 2012 Legal Ruling and Its Aftermath

The entire controversy hinged on a 2012 court order. The Barnett family claimed Natalia was a "sociopath" and a "con artist" who was actually a full-grown woman posing as a child. They successfully convinced a judge in Marion County, Indiana, to legally change her birth year from 2003 to 1989. This action instantly transformed the 8-year-old child into a 22-year-old legal adult in the eyes of the state.

This legal status was critical during the subsequent neglect trials against Michael and Kristine Barnett. The trial court was barred from relitigating the issue of Natalia's age, meaning the Barnetts were charged with neglecting an *adult dependent* rather than a child.

The DNA Test That Vindicated Natalia

A major breakthrough in the case came from a DNA test conducted by the medical lab TruDiagnostic. This advanced testing disproved the Barnetts' claims, revealing that Natalia was approximately 22 years old at the time of the test (in 2024), which aligned with her original 2003 birth year. The test results confirmed that when the Barnetts petitioned to change her age in 2012, Natalia was, in fact, only about nine years old—a child, not an adult woman.

While the test couldn't retroactively overturn the 2012 legal ruling used in the criminal trial, it provided powerful scientific evidence that validated Natalia’s story and helped restore her original date of birth on her legal documents.

Where Is Natalia Grace Now? The DePaul Family Update

After the intense scrutiny of the court cases and the highly publicized docuseries *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace*, many wondered if Natalia would ever find a stable home. Her journey of finding a forever family took yet another unexpected turn in late 2024.

The Mans Family Adoption and Fallout

Following the abandonment by the Barnett family, Natalia was taken in by Cynthia and Antwon Mans, an Indiana couple. They became a pillar of support for her throughout the legal battles. In 2023, the Mans family officially adopted Natalia, giving her a sense of permanence and security.

However, the relationship reportedly soured. Revelations from the docuseries indicated a significant fallout began when the Mans family allegedly became too focused on the media spotlight and the financial aspects of her story. Natalia confirmed in the third season of the docuseries that she was no longer living with the Manses.

Finding Stability with the DePaul Family

The most recent and crucial update is that Natalia Grace is now living with the DePaul family. She reached out to her friend Nicole DePaul, 49, after leaving the Manses. The DePauls are described as a supportive and loving family who have taken her in, providing the stability she has been seeking for over a decade.

This new chapter with the DePauls suggests that, at 22 years old, Natalia is finally getting the chance to live a normal adult life, free from the constant shadow of the age controversy and the manipulative claims of her past adoptive parents. The ongoing documentary series, *The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter*, which premiered in January 2025, continues to track her story, including the surprising details of the Mans family split and her life with the DePauls.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords in the Natalia Grace Case

The complexity of this case involves several key individuals and legal entities that are essential for understanding the full scope of the controversy:

  • Kristine Barnett and Michael Barnett: The first adoptive parents who successfully petitioned to change Natalia's age and were later charged with neglect.
  • Cynthia and Antwon Mans: The second adoptive family who took Natalia in and officially adopted her in 2023 before a publicized split.
  • Nicole DePaul: Natalia's friend and current guardian who has provided her with a new, stable home.
  • TruDiagnostic: The medical lab that conducted the DNA test, providing scientific proof of her actual age.
  • Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita: Natalia's rare form of dwarfism, which the Barnetts allegedly used to support their claims of her being an adult.
  • Marion County Superior Court: The court that issued the controversial 2012 ruling legally changing her birth year.
  • Neglect Charges: The criminal charges filed against the Barnetts for abandoning a legally dependent person.
  • The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Investigation Discovery (ID) docuseries that brought the story back into the spotlight.
  • *Orphan* Movie: Natalia herself claimed the Barnetts' actions were copied from the 2009 horror movie *Orphan*, which features a killer adult posing as an adopted child.

In conclusion, while Natalia Grace is legally an adult today at 22 years old, the overwhelming evidence confirms she was a child when her age was manipulated by the Barnett family. Her current life with the DePaul family marks a hopeful new chapter in a story filled with extraordinary twists and turns.

is natalia grace an adult
is natalia grace an adult

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