Parent's Dream
Imagine waking up one day to hear that your child is not really who or what you thought they were—it's enough to leave anyone heartbroken. Kristine and Michael thought they found the perfect addition to their little family. The couple with so much love to share were excited to begin the next phase of their life! Unfortunately, what started as a happy occasion, soon turned to confusion for the new parents!
They adopted a sweet 6-year-old girl from Brazil. However, nothing could have prepared them for what they found in her medical records. It turns out this sweet and innocent girl was not what she claimed to be, and doctors realized it too late!
Plans to Adopt
There are times that even though you're just trying to do the right thing, it's possible to get yourself into real problems. This is exactly what the Barnetts family went through.
All they've ever desired is a new member to join their family. They wished to extend their hands to those kids who needed a place to call home. And while many would appreciate that opportunity, the Barnetts ended up getting into the worse possible situation.
Yearning for a Girl
Kristine and Michael Barnett are a married couple. The two were the parents of three sons, but they still wanted an additional family member. They planned to adopt a kid—and not just any kid!
A girl whose age might be between around six and eight years old. However, this couple had no idea that taking this step would result in so many setbacks for them in the future.
Loving Parents
The couple and their three children resided in Indianapolis. They were excellent role models, and any child would dream of having parents like them.
The Barnetts were devoted to their family and did not hesitate to give them care and affection. It was all going well for this small family, but it wouldn't be long before a huge misunderstanding occurred.
Having a Prodigy Son
Jake, one of their sons, was a child prodigy. However, it required a great deal of effort to figure it out. The Barnetts' son was, in fact, born with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As a result, this youngster was in discomfort and had difficulties developing in a normal manner.
He was suffering from developmental delay. Kristine, on the other hand, stood up for him. This amount of support enabled Jake to flourish and achieve things that his instructors could only have dreamed of.
Young and Introverted Jake
Jake used to hide behind a shell when he was younger. And, yeah, he was a bit of a loner. For a youngster of his age, this isn't much to be surprised by. Doctors predicted that he'd never be able to read or write, let alone tie his shoelaces on his own.
Kristine put in many hours to help him come out of his shell. And she was successful! He enrolled in college at the age of ten because of his outstanding math and scientific abilities. Clearly, the doctors had got it wrong, and it wouldn't be the only time this family was shocked by medical results.
A Mother’s Story
At the age of 12, Jake wrote his first academic article. It was astounding, especially because he had a medical condition that predisposed him to a certain sort of trouble. His parents were often approached by strangers who wanted to know more about his amazing accomplishments.
In an interview with CBS News' 60 Minutes, they discussed their parenting experiences. The book The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism was written by Kristine to encourage other mothers.
Not Just Jake
On the other hand, Jacob wasn't the only family member that needed a little more attention. Wesley was also needed it. He was born with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which is muscle weakness.
You see, Kristine and Michael were not your typical parents. Little did they know, though, that with their next kid, they would have to face even greater obstacles than they had previously encountered.
Finding a Girl
Since all their kids are boys, they had their hearts set on adopting a girl. Originally, they wanted to parent a daughter from Haiti, but it wasn't meant to be.
There was an earthquake that year in Haiti, which made the adoption procedure very hard to complete. However, this did not imply that they had given up. They eventually got their wish.
The Girl from Ukraine
It was in 2010 when the Barnetts became the parents of a little girl. This special one came from Ukraine, and the family fell in love with her immediately.
It was only afterward that they discovered that the girl also had special needs. She was not a child in the same way that the others were.
The New Kid’s Condition
Finally! They had a girl to bring home. However, this would sadly bring them a great deal of harm in the future. Natalia was her name, and she suffered from dwarfism.
As a result, they couldn't tell how old she was. On the other hand, the physicians examined her and determined that she was, in fact, a kid.
Unusual Thing
According to the professionals who had been involved in her case, Natalia was found to be between the ages of eight and eleven years old. At least, that's what they thought.
The Barnetts were unable to see an issue despite these clear indicators, but they would soon figure it out. While Kristine was bathing Natalia, she realized that things were far from normal with this "little" girl.
It Keeps Getting Worse
Kristine noticed that Natalia had lots of pubic hair. They were taken aback by this since they knew that such a large amount of pubic hair was unusual for a typical kid. It was the beginning of their concerns with her.
After making this unusual finding, the Barnetts would learn more about their new family member in the following days. And to say they were surprised was an understatement.
Terror in the Family
The girl had moved in with them, and it was at this point that the nightmare began. According to Barnetts, the little girl began terrorizing the family. Kristine said that Natalia was making remarks and drawing images stating she intended to kill family members.
She's always saying she'd bundle them up in a blanket and throw them in the yard. She had no limits when it came to her derailments, not at all.
Growing Concerns
Even in the middle of the night, Natalia was a nightmare in the household. She would stand above them when they were lying in their beds. They were unable to sleep. They needed to keep all sharp items hidden.
Every day, they were consumed with concern for her and their children’s safety. As a result, they decided to take her to a psychiatrist.
Pouring Poison
Kristine noticed Natalia putting chemicals in her coffee, such as bleach and Windex, and when she inquired, Natalia responded, "I'm attempting to poison you." She was causing such a commotion that her parents were terrified.
She smeared some blood on the mirrors. She was performing things that you would never expect a kid to be capable of.
Murder Plans
Things continued to take a worrisome turn after that. Even though she was the source of all of this tension, the Barnetts still wanted her to be happy.
She had conversations with physicians and therapists, but Natalia's behavior got worse. She began writing notes about attempting to murder Kristine and the boys.
Running More Tests
Despite the Barnetts' efforts to defuse the situation, they were unable to achieve much success. As a result, the couple came up with the plan of having their new family member checked. They were curious about what was wrong with her and why she was acting in such a heinous manner.
They sought assistance from the physicians. But, what they discovered was far more upsetting than they had anticipated.
The Bewildering Fact
According to Kristine, many physicians have verified that she has a significant psychiatric disease diagnosed in adults. However, how did this happen in the first place? Is it possible for a kid to get an illness previously thought to be exclusive to adults?
She was only a child, after all! Well, Perhaps this young lady was not who she appeared to be? That's when the couple received even more terrifying news!
The Red Flags
What also drew Kristina's attention to the girl was several other characteristics she observed about her. Kristine states that Natalia had menstruation and even had permanent teeth.
On top of that, Natalia had never grown an inch, which wouldn't normally happen even with a child born with dwarfism. So, how old is she, exactly?
Misconception and Deception
To learn more about Natalia, who was threatening their family, they delved a little deeper this time around. When the Barnetts received the results of their investigation, they were astounded.
Natalia informed physicians later on that she was above the age of 18. According to doctors, she has stated that she fosters misunderstandings about her age to be treated like a kid by my parents and other strangers.
Taking Things to Court
The Barnetts were forced to take action because they were concerned that they were in danger. They took the matter to court. However, what precisely did they want to achieve with their efforts? Is it possible that the conclusion of this lawsuit will be favorable to them?
After finding out what she was, the Barnetts decided to have Natalia separated from the rest of the family. She threatened the Barnett family several times, and they were terrified of what this grown woman might do to them.
Emergency Petition
The Barnetts filed an emergency petition in Marion Superior Court, which was granted. Natalia's age had to be altered as a result of this. Fortunately, the petition was approved. Her birthdate formally changed from September 4, 2003, to September 4, 1989, due to legislation.
This is how Natalia went from being eight years old to being twenty-two in a single day. Now, she can't be adopted because she's an adult.
Providing Care
Even though they wanted Natalia out of their care, Kristine and her husband were particularly concerned about Natalia's health.
Despite everything, Kristine and her husband refused to hold Natalia responsible. According to the Barnetts, Natalia's date of birth was modified for her to receive the necessary assistance she required.
Unending Kindness
They also assisted her in obtaining Social Security disability benefits. And even placed her on the food stamp program.
They desired for her to be self-sufficient. The compassion of the people around her, however, would not be completely appreciated.
Far Away from Natalia
This was not the end of the Barnetts' generosity. They have done so much more including aiding Natalia in her search for an apartment. They then handed her three months' rent as a gift.
Since then, it has been clear that they have been attempting to get away from Natalia. After all, the girl had caused them so much trouble that it had become nearly impossible for them to continue to live in the same city together.
Planning a Peaceful Life
The Barnett family relocated from the previous neighborhood. The entire family packed their belongings and moved to Canada.
There, Jake was enrolled in a top physics program at Carleton University. It was the only way they could keep their minds off of the horror they had gone through. But their story didn't end there.
Not the End of the Story
This, however, was not the conclusion of the tale. Natalia was booted from her flat for nonpayment of rent. Then came the start of yet another step in this challenging and delicate situation. The eviction of the young girl has been reported to the authorities. When the officers arrived on the scene, they interrogated Natalia.
Once again, she has absolved herself of even the smallest responsibility. She just stated that she had not seen her parents since they had relocated up north when she was eight years old.
Start of Another Problem
The authorities were appalled that the parents had abandoned their child for such an extended period of time. Natalia's remarks, of course, did not go unnoticed by those who heard.
Quite the opposite; in fact, they were a major cause of conflict for the Barnetts. The Barnett couple has been brought before the courts, where prosecutors filed charges against them.
Dependent Negligence
Charges of dependent negligence have been filed against the Barnett couple. They surrendered to be apprehended and arrested. Both submitting not guilty pleas. Although they had endured a great deal of suffering and terror, they were still not near the end of their sentence.
It was now necessary to get justice, and it was expected to be a difficult struggle. Who would come out on top in such a tragic case?
Tense Situation
Kristine and her husband were beginning to feel the strain of their relationship growing increasingly. The court struggle, on the other hand, lasted several months. However, the battle did not come to an end there.
There was a slew of back and forths and hearings that went on forever. It was difficult to maintain their calm in the face of the allegations leveled against them and the pressure from their families.
The Separation
As a result of the stress of the circumstances, the Barnetts decided to end their marriage. Even though they were the perfect parents, they had to separate.
It was a complete and total disaster. All because of one girl. At this point, the couple probably wished they had never asked for a daughter. But it got worse!
Changing Perspectives
When media stories portrayed them as the worst parents in the world for abandoning their kid, the Barnetts went to great lengths to set the record right. They went into depth about their ordeal in an exclusive interview. Their assertions were supported by medical documents that were supplied by them.
They wanted everyone to know that Natalia had reached the age of majority. At that point, the media and the general public began to shift their perspectives on the situation.
Enlightening the Public
The matter was now within the grasp of the media. And, to further enlighten public opinion, they created several shows on the subject and posed questions to gain a better understanding of it. Michael has even made an appearance on “The Dr. Oz Show.”
During an interview on set, the man stated that Natalia was a psychopath. He said she was defrauding them by claiming to be a kid for them to cover all of her expenditures. But Natalia also had a lot to say on the matter.
Natalia’s Rebuttal
Natalia made public appearances in several media outlets in reaction to the media release, in which she contradicted her "adoptive" parents. During interviews, the Barnetts were no longer permitted to bring up Natalia's medical, mental, or educational records.
This provided the opportunity for Natalia to level additional allegations against the Barnetts. Only a few individuals truly comprehended the devastation Natalia had inflicted on this family, who had struggled for years to live peacefully.
Her New Life
Despite the horrors in Natalia's life, she found a new family after sharing her story with Dr. Phil. They were the friendliest people, and they took Natalia as one of their own.
The couple shared that Natalia was alone and abandoned. This inspired them to adopt the girl and raise her as one of their children. She says that she couldn't be more thankful and happier than to be with them. Crazy story, right? Who do you think is telling the truth, the Barnetts or Natalia?