Shraman Mitra
When Antwon and Cynthia Mans met Natalia Grace, she lived independently in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. When questioned, she mentioned that even though she was 22, her adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, abandoned her before moving to Canada. Investigation Discovery’s ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace’ chronicles how the Barnetts brought Natalia into their family, only to allege that she was older than what her birth certificate stated. The show also shares how the Mans family took Natalia in and cared for her as their own child, but there is more to the story.
Antwon and Cynthia Mans Met Natalia While She was in Despair
Antwon and Cynthia Mans are a married couple who lived in Lafayette, Indiana when they crossed paths with Natalia Grace. People who know them describe them as kindhearted and generous individuals who never hesitate to help others in need. The pair are also known for maintaining friendly relationships with everyone around them, while the neighbors insist that Antwon and Cynthia are pretty popular in the neighborhood. In fact, their helpful nature made them go out of their way to support Natalia Grace.
Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia Grace in 2010, but by 2013, they seemed to have left her by herself in an apartment in Lafayette. Her legal birth year had been changed from 2003 to 1989, and severe allegations of violence and mental illness were made against her. It was while living by herself that she met Antwon and Cynthia Mans, and it did not take her long to develop a deep bond with the couple. She even helped them shop for groceries on her own food card. Within days of meeting the Manses, Natalia was also happy to sign over her disability payments to Cynthia. Since the payments were initially going to Michael Barnett, he immediately raised a concern and asked her where she was. That was when Cynthia answered the phone and claimed that Natalia had moved in with them.
Michael and Kristine Barnett could not take any actions against the Manses since they were soon arrested and charged with several counts of child neglect. Meanwhile, Natalia moved in with Antwon and Cynthia at their Lafayette home, and she even appeared with them on a 2019 episode of ‘Dr. Phil,’ where the couple mentioned they already had two children and were expecting a third when they took the Ukranian native in. Yet, unlike the Barnetts’ allegations, she never showed any sign of violence in the Mans household and was rather fond of her adoptive siblings. Antwon and Cynthia called Natalia a wonderful aunt who takes good care of their grandson.
Antwon and Cynthia Mans Have Natalia’s Legal Guardianship Today
When the Manses, who currently reside in Nashville, Tennessee, discovered the alleged abuse that Natalia had suffered at the hands of Kristine and Michael Barnett, they petitioned in court to take over her guardianship from them. Initially, the court rejected their pleas because, technically, Natalia was an adult and did not require any legal guardianship. However, in August 2023, when her birth year was changed back to 2003, they officially adopted her and remain her legal adoptive parents even now. This change was welcomed by all the parties involved, but sometime later, a different picture of the Mans household appeared in front of the world.
Investigation Discovery’s docuseries, ‘The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,’ covered Natalia’s journey from her adoption by the Barnetts to all the stories told by the family and the girl, to them abandoning her and then the Manses entering her life. Everyone thought that this was where the story ends, but then the docuseries returned with another season, this time revealing the dark secrets within the Mans household. According to the docuseries, claims of physical and emotional abuse arose against Cynthia and Antwon Mans. The producers of the show claimed to have received a call from the couple, who detailed the problems of living with their adopted daughter. Meanwhile, Natalia started dating a boy named Neil, who reportedly convinced her that the Manses were exploiting her for her money.
According to the docuseries, the family initially settled the issue between them, claiming that Neil had brainwashed Natalia against them, which is why she talked about wanting to leave the house in her Facebook chats. They said that he manipulated her, and initially, Natalia seemed to agree with them. However, around Christmas of 2023, Natalia left the Mans household to move in with Nicole and Vince DePaul, the couple who had previously tried to adopt her in 2009. The allegations made by Neil were re-iterated by the DePauls, but Natalia has never openly supported these accusations against the Manses. In fact, she has always expressed her love and respect for the couple, though she has mentioned that she felt free after moving in with the DePauls. Cynthia and Antwon Mans, on the other hand, have never publicly commented upon these claims made against them and continue to live a private life.
Read More: Michael and Kristine Barnett: Where Are Natalia Grace’s Ex-Adoptive Parents Now?
