J&C COVERAGE: Natalia, the Ukrainian orphan, and the Barnetts' fight to clear their names
LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Journal & Courier documented the allegations and prosecution of Kristine Barnett and Michael Barnett since the charges were filed Sept. 11, 2019, accusing the couple of neglect by abandoning their adoptive daughter with severe dwarfism in Lafayette in July 2013.
As a docuseries, "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace," plays out on the TV screen, here are brief recaps and links to J&C reports from the beginning.
Barnetts charged with child neglect
∎ The Journal & Courier is one of many news outlets on Sept. 12, 2019, to break the allegations and charges against Michael and Kristine Barnett, ex-spouses initially accused of four counts of neglect of their adoptive daughter, a Ukrainian orphan with severe dwarfism.
More: Police: Parents charged after abandoning adopted daughter, 11, in rented room in 2013
∎ Tippecanoe County magistrate signs warrants for the arrest of Kristine Barnett and Michael Barnett. This report includes comments from a former Lafayette neighbor who remembered her, and recalled she made friends with other neighbors.
More: Arrest warrants issued for parents accused of abandoning daughter in Lafayette apt.
∎ The Barnetts — first Michael Barnett, and the next day, Kristine Barnett — turned themselves in at the Tippecanoe County Jail on the arrest warrants on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19, 1019, respectively. They were booked in and then released on bond. This story also reported on public records from the Barnetts' divorce.
More: Mother, father accused of abandoning adopted daughter in Lafayette turn themselves in
∎ The Journal & Courier publishes its first gallery of the Barnetts, including their mugshots and photos of Michael Barnett arriving to be booked into jail.
More: Michael, Kristine Barnett faces accusations of neglect of daughter
How old is Natalia Grace Barnett? Medical records re-age adoptee
∎ This story published Sept. 24, 2019, includes public information about a motion filed by Michael Barnett to release Natalia’s mental health records. This report also includes information about Natalia's move to Lafayette and public documents about her eviction.
More: Michael Barnett's attorney files for release of abandoned daughter’s mental health records
∎ The Journal & Courier tracked down two attorneys who attempted to reverse Michael and Kristine Barnett's re-aging of Natalia in a Marion County court. The June 2012 hearing that changed Natalia's birth year was done without any legal counsel to represent Natalia's rights and interests. Speaking about the June 2012 hearing in this Sept. 26, 2019, J&C story, Lafayette attorney Michael Tromel said, "The Barnetts basically filed an ex parte petition, and this kid was not represented."
More: Attorney who represented Michael and Kristine Barnett’s daughter disputes parents age claim
∎ Michael and Kristine Barnett arrived at the Tippecanoe County Courthouse the morning of Sept. 27, 2019, for their initial hearing. Media and reporters from around the world attended their arrival and hearing.
More: Michael and Kristine Barnett plead not guilty, accused of abandoning daughter in Lafayette
Michael Barnett appears on 'Dr. Oz'
∎ On Oct. 7, 2019, the J&C reported that Kristine Barnett filed for permission to await trial at her Florida home, and Michael Barnett was slated to appear on the "Dr. Oz" show on Oct. 8, 2019.
More: Dad accused of abandoning girl in Lafayette goes on 'Dr. Oz,' mom wants to go home to Fla.
∎ Michael Barnett appears on a national television show, claiming the adoption of Natalia was a fraud. He claimed Natalia was actually an adult when she was adopted.
More: Dad charged with abandoning daughter tells 'Dr. Oz:' 'There was no running to Canada'
∎ The J&C reports on Nov. 4, 2019, that the gag order was extended to include Natalia.
More: Gag order extended to cover Kristine Barnett and Michael Barnett's adopted daughter
Natalia Grace Barnett speaks out on 'Dr. Phil'
∎ "It's not true at all," Natalia said as she appears on "Dr. Phil" on Nov. 6, 2019. The show aired after Natalia was added to the gag order, but it was video-recorded before she was added to the order.
More: 'It's not true at all.' Michael, Kristine Barnett's daughter disputes parents' account on Dr. Phil
∎ The J&C reported Nov. 19, 2019, that Natalia's unofficial guardians — Antwon and Cynthia Mans — are added to the gag order.
More: Natalia Barnett's guardians added to gag order in neglect case
Michael and Kristine Barnett face additional felony charges
∎ Prosecutors file four additional charges of neglect of a dependent against the Barnetts on Dec. 12, 2019. The new charges are a higher level felony, and the original case is closed, and the original charges are folded into this new case file.
More: Michael and Kristine Barnett face more charges of neglecting daughter, Natalia
∎ Four charges against Kristine Barnett dismissed Aug. 15, 2020, because the statute of limitations expired. Tippecanoe Superior 2 Judge Steve Meyer rules he cannot overturn a Marion County court order that re-aged Natalia. Therefore, the four additional charges are dismissed if the prosecutors allege the neglect is based on Natalia’s age. The prosecutors may proceed if they allege the neglect was based on Natalia's disability. Similar order published about two weeks later for Michael Barnett.
Prosecutors track down Natalia Grace's birth mother
∎ In an effort to persuade Judge Meyer to revisit his decision to dismiss the cases, prosecutors reveal they have DNA evidence from Natalia's birthmother and are prepared to fly her to Lafayette, Indiana, to testify. Meyer does not reverse his earlier ruling.
∎ Indiana Appeals Court upholds the order that dismisses the four charges on statute of limitation and restricts prosecuting based on Natalia's age.
More: Appeals Court upholds dismissal of neglect charges against Kristine and Michael Barnett
∎ After more than two years of legal wrangling, the Journal & Courier reports on Feb. 20, 2022, about the twists and turns in the case.
More: Cases involving Kristine Barnett, Michael Barnett filled with twists and turns
∎ Judge admonishes Kristine Barnett to abide by the gag order in her social media posts.
More: Kristine Barnett ordered to strictly follow gag order in her child neglect case
Michael Barnett sells story rights to Hulu
∎ Prosecutors argued their concerns on Aug. 15, 2022, that Michael Barnett might have violated the gag order by selling the rights to his story to Hulu. Barnett is required to produce the contract for review by the court.
More: Prosecutors say Michael Barnett violated gag order by working with Hulu producers
∎ Michael Barnett's pretrial hearing bogged down in what jurors will be allowed to hear and not hear about the Barnetts, Natalia's alleged age and her Ukrainian birth records.
More: Michael Barnett's trial date in the Natalia Grace neglect case now pending legal questions
∎ Michael and Kristine Barnett either abandoned their adopted daughter, Natalia, in Lafayette, or they abided by Natalia's wishes of wanting nothing to do with her adoptive parents, based on opening statements in Michael Barnett's trial on Oct. 24, 2022.
More: Barnett case: Negligent parents or defiant daughter?
Michael Barnett found not guilty of child neglect
∎ After a three-day trial, jurors acquit Michael Barnett on Oct. 27, 2022.
More: Michael Barnett acquitted of neglecting adopted daughter, Natalia
Charges dropped against Kristine Barnett
∎ Prosecutors file to dismiss the charges against Kristine Barnett, citing insufficient evidence against her.
More: Neglect charges against Kristine Barnett for abandoning Ukrainian orphan dismissed
∎ A review of the Barnetts' cases, explaining how and why the cases were resolved.
More: Barnett case sparks new media buzz, documentaries. What to know about the case:
Here's the evidence jurors never heard in Michael Barnett's case
∎ Tippecanoe County Prosecutor Patrick Harrington meets May 22, 2023, with the Journal & Courier and shares the evidence his deputies gathered in the Barnett investigation. Most of the evidence was never heard by jurors because of court rulings. But among the evidence is proof that Natalia was born in 2003.
More: Prosecutors share evidence from Barnett legal battles over orphan Natalia
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Natalia Grace: All of the J&C's coverage of the Ukrainian adoptee
