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5 Shocking Updates On Kristine Barnett’s Life: Where Is The Adoptive Mother Of Natalia Grace Now?

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The sensational case of Natalia Grace and her adoptive parents, Kristine and Michael Barnett, captivated the world, but the question remains: where is Kristine Barnett now, following the dismissal of her felony neglect charges? As of today, December 10, 2025, Kristine Barnett has moved on from the legal drama and has pivoted her public life toward advocacy and authorship, establishing a new residence in Florida and releasing a candid new book detailing her side of the tumultuous events.

The saga, which involved a Ukrainian orphan with a rare form of dwarfism whose age was legally changed from a child to an adult, thrust the Barnett family into an intense media spotlight, culminating in criminal charges. With the legal battles now concluded, Kristine Barnett’s current focus is on redefining her narrative and continuing her work as an advocate for children with disabilities, a role she has maintained for years through her work with her son, Jacob Barnett, a recognized child prodigy.

Kristine Barnett: Complete Biographical Profile

Kristine Barnett is an American author, former daycare operator, and advocate, best known for her memoir, The Spark, and the highly publicized legal case involving her adoptive daughter, Natalia Grace.

  • Full Name: Kristine Elizabeth Barnett
  • Known For: The Natalia Grace adoption and neglect case; Author of the best-selling memoir, The Spark.
  • Former Husband: Michael Barnett (Divorced in 2018)
  • Biological Children: Three sons, including Jacob Barnett, a recognized mathematical and physics prodigy.
  • Adoptive Child: Natalia Grace (Adopted in 2010)
  • Former Business: Founder of Acorn Hill Academy, a daycare and learning center in Indiana, which catered to both typical and special-needs children.
  • Legal Status: Felony neglect charges dismissed by the state of Indiana in 2023.
  • Current Residence: Reportedly resides in Bradenton, Florida.
  • Current Role: Author, writer, loving mother, and activist/advocate for children with disabilities.

The Final Legal Verdict and Dismissal of Charges

The central question surrounding Kristine Barnett for years was the status of her legal entanglement with the state of Indiana. The controversy began when Kristine and her then-husband, Michael Barnett, adopted Natalia Grace in 2010, believing she was a six-year-old Ukrainian child with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism.

The Barnetts later alleged that Natalia was an adult masquerading as a child, leading them to successfully petition an Indiana court in 2012 to change her legal age from 8 to 22. This re-aging was the foundation of the subsequent neglect charges.

In 2013, the Barnett family moved to Canada, leaving Natalia in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, which resulted in the 2019 charges of neglect of a dependent.

The legal outcomes were split between the former couple:

  • Michael Barnett's Trial: Michael Barnett was tried first and found not guilty of three counts of neglect and conspiracy in 2022.
  • Kristine Barnett's Charges: Following her ex-husband's acquittal, the charges against Kristine Barnett were formally dismissed by the state of Indiana in 2023.

Crucially, neither Kristine nor Michael Barnett served any jail time in connection with the case. The dismissal of charges against Kristine Barnett marked the official conclusion of the criminal aspect of the sensational case that had dominated headlines and was the subject of multiple documentaries, including The Curious Case of Natalia Grace and its follow-up, Good American Family.

Kristine Barnett’s New Life in Florida and Her Latest Book

With her legal troubles behind her, Kristine Barnett has relocated and focused on her career as an author and public figure. Her current known residence is in Bradenton, Florida, a significant move from her previous life in Indiana and the time the family spent in Canada.

Her public presence, primarily through social media, continues to emphasize her long-standing role as an advocate for children with disabilities. This advocacy is deeply rooted in her experience raising her son, Jacob Barnett, who was diagnosed with autism and is now a respected physicist and mathematician. The story of nurturing Jacob's genius was the subject of her 2013 best-selling memoir, The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing Genius.

However, the most significant update to Kristine Barnett’s professional life is the promotion of her new book, a direct response to the intense scrutiny and media coverage of the Natalia Grace case.

The New Memoir: Witch Hunt: The Kristine Barnett Story

In 2024, Kristine Barnett began promoting her new book, titled Witch Hunt: The Kristine Barnett Story. This title clearly indicates her intention to present her perspective on the events that led to the criminal charges and the subsequent media frenzy. The book is positioned as her definitive account of the bizarre and traumatic experience, offering a counter-narrative to the public perception shaped by the documentaries and court proceedings.

The publication of Witch Hunt signifies Kristine Barnett's commitment to controlling her own story and maintaining her public profile as an activist and writer, even after the conclusion of the high-profile trial. This move is a clear attempt to provide context and clarity on the complex dynamics of the adoption, the re-aging of Natalia Grace, and the family's eventual move to Canada.

The Impact of the Case on the Barnett Family

The Natalia Grace case irrevocably altered the lives of all members of the Barnett family. The intense pressure and legal battles ultimately led to the divorce of Kristine and Michael Barnett, which was finalized in 2018. While Michael Barnett remains in Indiana and has appeared in follow-up documentaries, Kristine has chosen a new path and a new location in Florida.

The case also cast a shadow over their biological son, Jacob Barnett, whose remarkable story of overcoming an autism diagnosis to become a genius was the subject of Kristine’s first book. The family’s move to Canada was initially intended to facilitate Jacob’s academic career at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Kristine Barnett’s current life, residing in Florida, is a clear departure from the Indiana home where the controversy began. Her ongoing advocacy work, coupled with the release of her new book, demonstrates a determined effort to reclaim her identity as a devoted mother and an advocate, rather than solely being defined by the sensationalized details of the Natalia Grace case.

In summary, Kristine Barnett is currently a free woman, living in Florida, and actively pursuing her career as an author with the 2024 release of Witch Hunt. Her legal battles are over, and her public focus is firmly on authorship and advocacy, allowing her to finally close the chapter on one of the most unusual legal sagas in recent memory.

where is kristine barnett now
where is kristine barnett now

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