Following a series of shocking twists, which included emotional interviews featuring Natalia and her adoptive father, Michael Barnett, her true birth year was confirmed as 2003. This revelation seemed to set the stage for a potential happy ending, where she could finally find a family ready to support her unconditionally. Yet, this hope quickly spiraled into a new set of challenges and heartaches.

But that hope was short-lived.

The initial run of the docuseries hinted at issues already arising within the Mans family, who had taken Natalia in after the Barnetts abandoned her to fend for herself in an apartment at just 8 years old. This abandonment followed the legally questionable decision to change her birth year from 2003 to 1989, effectively making her appear to be a 22-year-old adult on paper while she remained biologically just a child.

Now, Natalia is ready to share her complete story in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter, which will air on back-to-back nights, January 6 and 7, on ID. This series promises to reveal more about her tumultuous journey and the challenges she faced along the way.

As the premiere of the docuseries approaches, the now 21-year-old Natalia opened up in an exclusive interview with People, discussing the profound psychological and emotional toll her experiences have taken on her. She reflected on her life with both the Barnetts and the Mans, offering insight into her struggles and aspirations as she navigates adulthood.

Despite being the focal point of her own docuseries, Natalia admitted to People that she often feels uncomfortable in front of the camera. The outlet reported an emotional breakdown she experienced during filming, highlighting the ongoing struggles she faces in sharing her story with the world.

According to reports, after a heated confrontation, Natalia expressed feelings of “anxiety to raw fear and eventually panic,” but she ultimately regained her composure and focused on moving forward in her life. “I have anxiety all the way to the roof,” she explained to People, conveying the depth of her emotional struggles.

“I really don’t love being filmed or being on a TV show. I’m more of a quiet girl who enjoys sitting on a porch swing with a book and a hot chocolate or coffee in the morning,” she candidly shared, revealing her preference for a more private lifestyle away from the spotlight.

Natalia has been diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, a behavioral condition common among children who have spent time in orphanages. Additionally, she struggles with anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD, each of which has been profoundly shaped by her tumultuous early life experiences.

For Natalia, many of her emotional triggers stem from the chaotic life she has led since her birth in Ukraine, where her biological mother relinquished her due to her dwarfism. She was initially adopted by Dyan and Gary Ciccone in 2008 when she was just 5 years old, but they quickly relinquished parental rights due to her so-called disruptive behavior, leaving her in a vulnerable position.

It was during this uncertain time that her journey with the Barnetts began, after the Indiana couple adopted her in 2010, significantly changing the trajectory of her life.

Two years into her adoption, suspicions arose regarding Natalia’s age, as her adult teeth, pubic hair, and menstrual cycles led the Barnetts to believe she was lying about her true age. They accused her of attempting to harm her adoptive mother, Kristine Barnett, and had her legally re-aged to 22 years in court. In 2013, they abandoned her, leaving her in an apartment to live independently.

Kristine branded Natalia a violent “sociopath,” alleging that her adoptive daughter attempted to poison her coffee and engaged in various violent behaviors. They claimed that on one occasion, they woke to find Natalia looming over them with a knife, amidst a range of other allegations involving sexual misconduct and aggression.

In response, Natalia countered these accusations in the new season of the docuseries, claiming that Kristine physically abused her with a belt, pepper-sprayed her, and intentionally overdosed her on medication. She has steadfastly denied any intent to harm the Barnetts.

“I feel like I have to defend myself and be like, ‘Do I look like someone who could push someone twice my size into a fence? Do I look like I could even grip a knife?’” she passionately argues throughout the new episodes, emphasizing her perspective on the accusations.

In January 2024, Kristine denied any allegations of abuse against Natalia in a Facebook post, stating, “I sat through numerous hospital visits and therapy sessions trying to understand and assist Natalia, believing we could uncover the root of her issues. Ultimately, I realized she is a sociopath.”

Michael Barnett informed Good Morning America that doctors treating Natalia had labeled her as a “sociopath” and “con artist,” warning him and Kristine that they were all in danger.

As Natalia’s story gained traction in the media, public opinion was divided. “There were lots of people saying, ‘You’re fake. You’re a liar. You’re a pedophile.’ I’m also known for being the little girl who was helpless and was abused and starved,” Natalia expressed to People, reflecting on the harsh judgments she faced.

“That’s not who I am,” she continued, explaining her decision to publicly share her story, stating, “But that seems to be the only thing people know — and that’s why it hurts me so much.”

Reflecting on her experiences of living alone in that second-story apartment at just eight years old, Natalia highlighted the challenges posed by her physical disability, which made it difficult for her to reach basic necessities. She expressed her discomfort with being forced to claim she was 22 years old, a lie that weighed heavily on her.

“I didn’t understand why I was alone. I just knew I had this instinct to push and survive,” she recalled. “All I was told was, ‘You’re 22 now. Whenever anyone asks you what your age is, you say you’re 22 and that you tried to murder your family.’ I was taught to lie.”

Prosecutors in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, eventually charged the Barnetts with neglecting a dependent. However, Michael was acquitted by a jury in 2022, and the charges against Kristine were dropped the following year, underscoring the complexities of the case.

Natalia’s journey continued when she first met the Mans family while living alone in the apartment that the Barnetts had set up for her. After several days of conversation, Cynthia Mans extended an invitation for Natalia to move in with her family, which included her husband, Antwon Mans, a pastor, and their ten children, offering Natalia a glimpse of a different family dynamic.

In 2023, Natalia’s legal age was restored to 2003 following extensive medical evaluations and DNA testing, allowing her to be officially adopted into the Mans family. During her time there, she was welcomed into their faith community and was actively involved in nurturing their children, which provided her with a sense of belonging and responsibility.

“I learned how to be a mother,” Natalia warmly reflected on her experiences with the Mans family, describing her role in caring for infants and assisting with homework, which helped her develop nurturing skills that she had longed to cultivate.

However, as Natalia embraced her newfound independence and the realities of being a 20-year-old, tensions arose within her new home. She found herself navigating complex family dynamics while striving to assert her independence.

Natalia revealed that Antwon discovered her social media interactions with a man named Neil and began to manipulate her by using explicit videos and images he had obtained, further complicating her situation. She stated that Antwon confiscated her phone, attempting to control her communication and social life.