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Kristine Barnett, who describes herself as an author and advocate for children with disabilities, gained national attention for a case that later inspired Good American Family. In 2010, Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted Ukrainian-born Natalia Grace.
When the Barnetts adopted Natalia, they believed she was about six. Later they had Natalia reclassified as a 22-year-old through the court, claiming she was not actually a minor. By 2019, they faced neglect charges for leaving her alone in Indiana while relocating to Canada. But Kristine never went to jail, as the charges against her were eventually dropped.
The case remained tangled and controversial, especially as public interest spiked again with Hulu’s Good American Family. Though Kristine has consistently denied any abuse, her role in the story remains one of the most debated parts of the series.
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Kristine Barnett’s attorneys, Mark Nicholson and Deidra Haynes, pushed for a full dismissal of the charges against her
Back in 2010, Kristine Barnett and her husband, Michael, adopted Natalia Grace, a young girl from Ukraine. They thought she was six. Two years later, they were convinced she was not a child at all.
They obtained a court order in 2012 to shift Natalia’s birth year from 2003 to 1989. Legally, Natalia was now 22. Not long after, in 2013, the Barnetts packed up their things and moved to Canada. In 2013, they moved to Canada, leaving Natalia in an Indiana apartment, which led to neglect charges in 2019.
Kristine did not end up in jail. The case fell apart. Some charges were dismissed because time had run out. Others could not hold up in court. Her attorneys, Mark Nicholson and Deidra Haynes, fought to have all of them dropped, and they succeeded.
Even now, with the show Good American Family bringing the case back into the spotlight, Kristine continues to deny the abuse claims. But her part in the story still sparks debate
Why the case against Kristine Barnett was dismissed
In 2023, the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor filed a motion to dismiss the charges against Kristine Barnett, stating there was insufficient evidence to proceed to trial. The motion was granted by Judge Steve Meyer.
Four of the eight charges were dismissed due to the statute of limitations. The state attempted to appeal, but the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal. The Indiana Supreme Court later declined to review the case, finalizing the outcome.
Attorneys Mark Nicholson and Deidra Haynes, who represented Kristine, argued that the legal reclassification of Natalia’s age made the neglect charges legally unviable. As reported by the Law Office of Mark Nicholson report dated March 24, 2023, attorney Mark Nicholson noted:
“Our client should never have been charged. But we are happy that the case was finally dismissed!”
Michael Barnett was tried separately and was acquitted in 2022.
Kristine did not participate in the series but addressed the allegations in a Facebook post in 2024, saying:
“If there had been any abuse of Natalia or evidence of it, I would have been found guilty of it and I would be in jail.”
Where is Kristine Barnett today?
Kristine Barnett currently resides in Florida and maintains a public social media presence. She continues to describe herself as an author and advocate. Her past memoir, The Spark, was published in 2013.
Good American Family has reignited public debate around her case, which portrays key events leading up to and following Natalia’s abandonment. The legal, ethical, and emotional complexities continue to be unpacked in the media and entertainment alike.
Stay tuned for more updates.
