Good American Family: Where are Kristine and Michael Barnett now?

Hulu’s Good American Family has reignited interest in the real-life case of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl with dwarfism whose adoptive parents, Kristine and Michael Barnett, accused her of lying about her age and being dangerous. While the series dramatizes the story, the real-life case remains complex, with conflicting allegations and legal battles.

Who are Kristine and Michael Barnett?

Kristine and Michael Barnett, an Indiana couple, adopted Natalia Grace in 2010, believing she was six or seven. They also had three biological sons: Jacob, Wesley, and Ethan, including child prodigy Jacob Barnett, who inspired Kristine’s 2013 memoir The Spark: A Mother's Story of Nurturing, Genius, and Autism. 

The couple later claimed Natalia was an adult posing as a child and had her legal age changed to 22. They then moved to Canada, leaving her behind—sparking abuse allegations and legal consequences.

What were Kristine and Michael Barnett Charged with?

Kristine and Michael were each charged with six counts of neglect and two counts of conspiracy to commit neglect. Michael was acquitted in October 2022, while all charges against Kristine were dismissed in March 2023 due to insufficient evidence. (via Forbes)

Are Kristine and Michael Barnett Still Together?

No, Kristine and Michael divorced in 2018, four years after Michael filed for separation.

Where is Michael Barnett now?

Michael still lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. He remarried after his divorce from Kristine but later filed for divorce from his second wife, Jennifer Barnett, in 2022. He appeared in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, where he claimed he was also manipulated and mistreated by Kristine, stating, “I had the same monster you did. I was exceptionally controlled and put down and threatened, was minimalized, anything that was who I was was ripped from me and I was guided and instructed to be exactly what she wanted me to be.” (via Forbes)

Where is Kristine Barnett now?

Kristine’s last known U.S. address was in Indiana in 2019, though she previously lived in New Hamburg, Ontario. She did not participate in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, but she denied Natalia’s abuse claims in a now-deleted Facebook post, insisting, “Natalia was a very much loved and cared for member of my family. She was not abused by anyone in my family. Let’s get straight to these allegations.” (via Forbes)

She added, “Nobody ever took a belt to Natalia and the allegations that she was 'beaten' are just plain false. Any discipline of Natalia was very minimal and was not out of the bounds of normal parenting. If anything it was overly permissive as we all felt a tremendous amount of sympathy for Natalia and loved her while she lived with us.” 

With Good American Family bringing their story back into the spotlight, the debate over what really happened between the Barnetts and Natalia Grace continues.

Where can you Watch Good American Family?

New episodes of Good American Family are available to stream every Wednesday on Hulu. The third episode titled, “Ghosts Everywhere” will air on March 26, 2025.

We have recaps and explanations of Episode 1 and Episode 2, do check it out!