Michael & Kristine Barnett: The Shocking Truth About Their Lives Today!

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As a gaming enthusiast diving into the streaming world, I recently discovered “Good American Family” on Hulu. Although it’s categorized as a drama series, this captivating show is inspired by the true story of Natalia Grace, following her journey with her former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett.

For those not already familiar, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace initially unfolded on ID as a documentary series. Essentially, it came down to two contrasting stories: the Barnett family initially claimed that Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was actually an adult disguising as a child with malicious intentions towards their family. However, Natalia herself maintains that she was abused by the Barnetts.

Without a doubt, one key aspect of the case is that in 2012, the Barnetts legally changed Natalia’s age from eight to 22 and left her in an isolated apartment by herself. It was during this period that she encountered her new adoptive parents, Cynthia and Antwon Mans. Subsequent DNA testing confirmed that she was indeed a minor while under the custody of the Barnetts.

Since that time, numerous events have taken place, such as court battles, divorces, and fresh disagreements. However, with the dismissal of felony charges, Good American Family finds themselves in a challenging position, as they strive to narrate the Barnetts’ adoption of Natalia from various angles.

Where are Michael & Kristine Barnett now?

2014 saw the filing of divorce between Michael and Kristine, a process that concluded in 2018. Currently, Michael resides in Indiana, and he features prominently in the sequel documentaries on Natalia Grace – Natalia Speaks and The Final Chapter.

Jacob Barnett, their oldest son, resided with them for a while before moving out on his own. Later, Michael tied the knot with a lady called Jennifer Davis, who is a professional artist by trade.

As per present records, Kristine resides in Bradenton, Florida – a location also mentioned in her legal documents. She has assumed guardianship of her grown sons, Wesley and Ethan, the two younger ones from her family.

Since the news broke out, Kristine has chosen to stay out of the public eye. Unlike Michael, who appeared in every installment of the Natalia Grace documentary series, Kristine didn’t provide any input for it.

Despite setting her Facebook page to private, she continues to post updates. In November 2024, it seemed she endorsed Good American Family, stating, “May truth prevail in the telling of my family’s story as Disney launches Good American Family, featuring Ellen Pompeo.

As a devoted admirer, I found myself in agreement with Natalia’s supporters when they commented, “Indeed, Kristine, we all long for the genuine story to be shared – the authentic truth, not the theatrical narrative that you and Michael seem to have concocted.

By 2023, Michael held the position of District Director of Operations within a financial firm based in Indiana. According to Touch, his LinkedIn profile stated that as the DDO, he was entirely accountable for the hiring, training, and retention of the team across 11 locations in Central Indiana.

Speaking of Kristine, she’s well-known for penning “The Spark: A Mother’s Tale of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism,” a book centered around the Barnetts’ son Jacob, who is believed to have an IQ of 170.

Kristine Barnett’s LinkedIn profile mentions that her son, Jacob, possesses an intelligence level higher than Albert Einstein’s. When he was only two years old, professionals predicted he wouldn’t be capable of tying his own shoelaces.

When he was just nine years old, he embarked on creating an innovative theory within the field of astrophysics, a work that experts speculate could one day earn him a Nobel Prize. Currently, this prodigious child is studying for his PhD in physics at the tender age of 14.

Currently, Jacob is 26 years old. At the time The Curious Case of Natalia Grace was being filmed, he resided in his father’s basement. However, he has since relocated to Bilbao, Spain, where he holds a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics.

Did Michael & Kristine go to prison?

Despite being arrested in 2019, the charges against Michael and Kristine Barnett were ultimately dismissed due to a lack of substantial evidence. Consequently, they avoided serving any jail time related to the accusations concerning their handling of Natalia Grace.

2013 saw Michael and Kristine relocate their family from Indiana to Canada, specifically Lafayette, in order to further Jacob’s studies. By the end of that year, however, Michael decided to return to the United States alone.

Shortly following their departure, authorities intervened to launch an investigation into Natalia’s care situation. Over time, they were indicted for several offenses related to neglect, including: failure to provide adequate care for a dependent, causing minor harm; failure to provide adequate care for a dependent, causing substantial bodily injury; and failure to provide adequate care for a dependent, causing serious bodily injury, as well as conspiring to neglect their dependent.

In September 2019, Michael surrendered, and Kristine did so soon after. Both of them were granted bail at that time.

In October 2022, the jury found Michael Barnett not guilty of the accusations made against him, and he was granted immunity as a condition for providing evidence against Kristine.

Nevertheless, the court decided to drop her case in March 2023, as the judge found that “there wouldn’t be enough proof available during the trial to establish the accusations in this case with a high degree of certainty.

Good American Family cast

In the movie, Mark Duplass takes on the role of Michael Barnett, while Ellen Pompeo plays Kristine Barnett. The character of Natalia Grace is brought to life by the new actress, Imogen Faith Reid.

Pompeo is particularly recognized for her portrayal of Meredith Grey on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, while Mark collaborated with his brother Jay Duplass to establish the film production company known as Duplass Brothers Productions. Additionally, he co-wrote and acted in the horror movie hit Creep, along with its sequel Creep 2.

Regarding the remaining characters, Saving Hope actress Kim Shaw takes on the role of Michael’s newly wedded spouse, Jennifer, whereas Aias Dalman portrays Jacob Barnett.

Discover the release date for the upcoming episode of Good American Family by using our handy guide. Additionally, explore the latest documentaries currently streaming, and delve into the story of Freddie Gill from The Curious Case of Natalia Grace.

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2025-03-19 14:20