Kristine Barnett Trial: A Story Of Neglect & Abandonment

The story of Natalia Grace is one that has captivated the attention of people around the world.

Questions and controversies surround her adoption by Michael and Kristine Barnett and the subsequent abandonment that Natalia allegedly suffered. 

Natalia Grace’s case only got more complicated when the Barnetts accused her of being an adult pretending to be a child. 

The whole ordeal has culminated in Michael and Kristine facing charges of neglecting a dependent. 

In this article, we examine the Kristine Barnett trial and the events leading up to it in detail.

Events leading upto the trial

The Barnetts, who lived in Indiana at the time, adopted Natalia Grace in 2010. She had a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal and was six years old at the time of her adoption. 

Soon after, the couple became increasingly suspicious of Natalia and believed she was not the age they were told. 

They accused Natalia of showing signs of puberty and attempting to kill them. The family moved to Canada in 2013 and left Natalia behind in an apartment.

Charges and trial

In September 2019, Michael Barnett was arrested for neglecting a dependent after prosecutors alleged that he and Kristine had abandoned Natalia. 

Later in November of the same year, Kristine faced the same charges. 

Both of them faced three felony counts of neglect of a dependent. However, the prosecution could not pursue charges of neglect of a child due to the court-ordered age change of Natalia.

The trial took place in September 2022, with Michael facing three charges of neglect and one charge of conspiracy to commit neglect. 

Moreover, the trial lasted a little over a week and concluded with the jury finding him not guilty of all four charges. 

According to Fox News, the jury deliberated for about three and a half hours before announcing the verdict.

In March 2023, Kristine had her day in court with charges of neglecting a dependent against her. 

However, the prosecution dropped the charges, stating that they did not have enough evidence to prove them beyond a reasonable doubt. 

The Journal & Courier reported that Kristine is currently living in Florida.

Natalia’s testimony

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the trial was Natalia’s testimony. When asked about her age, she had to say that she was 22 because that was what her birth certificate indicated. 

The court listened to her harrowing account of what happened to her after the Barnetts moved away. 

Natalia claimed that she did not know how to live on her own, and simple tasks like buying food posed a challenge due to her disability.

She recounted how Katherine moved her to Lafayette to an office, where she signed a lease that indicated that Michael Barnett was the payee for the rent. 

According to Indiana State Police Detective Brandon Davenport, Michael Barnett told him that Katherine chose Lafayette as a place because it was a “white-trash town,” and no one would care for or worry about Natalia there.

Natalia also testified that she had lived in an apartment in Westfield for a year before Katherine moved her to Lafayette. 

In her Westfield apartment, she mainly survived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pizza, and Ramen noodles. 

However, her life took a positive turn when she met Cynthia Mans, who took her in and taught her how to read and write.

The Kristine Barnett trial showcased a tragic tale of neglect and abandonment. 

Natalia’s harrowing testimony and the subsequent verdict has left many questions unanswered and calls for further scrutiny of adoptions and guardianship laws and policies. 

The trial serves as a reminder that children in vulnerable positions require our protection and care. 

Hopefully, Natalia’s story will lead to greater awareness and action to prevent such injustices from occurring.