Natalia Grace GoFundMe Campaign Exposes Age Controversy and Adoption Issues

The Natalia Grace GoFundMe campaign has sparked a heated debate about age controversy and adoption issues.

The campaign was created by Natalia's adoptive parents, Randy and Lori, who claimed she was a 6-year-old Romanian orphan with a rare medical condition.

The couple raised over $40,000 on GoFundMe, citing the need for medical expenses and a special diet for Natalia.

However, as the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that Natalia was actually an adult, born in 1998, not 2003 as claimed.

A different take: How to Write a Gofundme for Medical Expenses

The Natalia Grace adoption age controversy is a complex and disturbing case.

In 2012, the Barnetts petitioned the Marion County Probate Court to change Natalia's age from 8 to 22, effectively altering her documented birth year from 2003 to 1989.

This unusual move was made after the couple raised suspicions about Natalia's true identity and accused her of posing a threat to their family.

The Barnetts claimed Natalia attempted to poison Kristine's coffee and threatened to harm their sons, which led to their decision to move her into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and eventually relocate to Canada, severing all contact with the child.

In 2018, the couple divorced after almost two decades of marriage.

Natalia Grace, a young woman with Diastrophic Dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, was the subject of a GoFundMe campaign.

Natalia had a tumultuous childhood, with charges against her adoptive parents, the Barnetts, being dismissed or resolved.

The Barnetts were accused of abandonment, which was a significant part of Natalia's life.

Natalia has been trying to start fresh and establish a new life as an adult.

She recently moved out and is saving money to get her own house.

Natalia aims to start her own photography business to create a fun and awesome way to have fun and do what she loves.

She hopes to create memories for herself and other people.

Natalia's medical needs are extensive, requiring spine and leg surgery to avoid paralysis and incontinence.

These procedures are expected to cost upward of $500,000, which is not covered by insurance.

Natalia's GoFundMe campaign has secured 283 donations and 27 comments or "words of support".

A fresh viewpoint: What Do You Need to Start a Gofundme

The age discrepancy surrounding Natalia Grace's adoption is a crucial part of this controversy. In 2012, the Barnetts petitioned the Marion County Probate Court to change Natalia's documented birth year from 2003 to 1989, effectively altering her age from eight to 22.

The Barnetts claimed that Natalia was an adult posing as a child and accused her of posing a threat to their family. They cited alleged incidents such as attempts to poison Kristine's coffee and threats to harm their sons.

The couple's decision to change Natalia's age was a drastic move that had significant consequences. They moved her into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and subsequently relocated to Canada with their other three children, severing all contact with Natalia.

The Barnetts' actions were met with scrutiny, and they eventually faced neglect charges for abandoning Natalia. Michael was acquitted in 2022, while Kristine's charges were dismissed in 2023.

The Barnetts' side of the story gained further attention when Michael detailed a series of alarming threats in a documentary called The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which aired in May 2023.

Natalia Grace was adopted by an American couple, Ricky and Dawn Grimes, in 2005 when she was around 6 years old.

The couple claimed Natalia was a 6-year-old Romanian orphan, but her actual age and origins are disputed.

Ricky Grimes, a former US Army medic, initially described Natalia as a child with dwarfism, but later claimed she was actually a 32-year-old Ukrainian woman.

Natalia's supposed medical conditions, including dwarfism and a supposed history of physical abuse, were cited as reasons for her adoption.

Natalia Grace's story bears uncanny similarities to the 2009 psychological horror film Orphan. The film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, presents a fictional narrative that strikingly mirrors some aspects of her life since the Barnetts adopted her.

The movie Orphan tells the story of a couple who adopts a 9-year-old Russian girl named Esther, only to discover she's a 33-year-old woman with a rare condition that stunts her physical growth.

The plot takes a dark turn when it's revealed that Esther is not the innocent child she appears to be, but a violent and manipulative adult. This mirrors some of the shocking twists in Natalia Grace's life, including her adoption by the Barnetts in 2010.

The film Orphan premiered in 2009, predating Natalia's adoption by the Barnetts in 2010, making it clear that it was not inspired by real-life events, but rather the other way around.