The Ukrainian orphan initially made headlines when her first adoptive dad and mom, Michael and Kristine Barnett, had her age legally modified to make her an grownup — two years after they have been advised she was a 6-year-old woman. Claiming Natalia tried to kill them and their different youngsters, the Barnetts then positioned her in an condo alone; the 2 have been later arrested for neglect, however cleared of the fees, whereas a 2023 DNA take a look at later decided Grace was truly a toddler on the time she was deserted.

ID’s new The Curious Case of Natalia Grace collection paperwork her life since, detailing why she fled the house of their second adoptive dad and mom, Antwon and Cynthia Mans, to maneuver in with Vince and Nicole DePaul … and the drama that adopted her to their dwelling. As a part of the brand new four-part collection, which TooFab has screened forward of the episodes’ January 6 and seven debuts, viewers are additionally launched to Natalia’s boyfriend, a person within the UK named Neil.

Viewers first heard about Neil in a distressed cellphone name the Mans made to producers, six months after they adopted Natalia.

“This woman is tweaking. She acquired this dude on-line. He turned her towards us,” Antwon mentioned within the cellphone name, as Cynthia claimed Natalia was able to “pack up and depart and go to the UK” to be with him.”

“I used to be on-line, I met a man. His identify is Neil. He is from the UK,” Natalia herself shared. “At first it was only a small message after which I grew emotions, he claimed he grew emotions and I simply opened my coronary heart. It felt actually good.”

Whereas Neil appeared within the documentary, he requested producers conceal his identification, in order to not topic himself and their relationship to public scrutiny.

It was Neil who reached out to Nicole DePaul over social media, claiming Natalia was being “held hostage” by the Manses and had no “entry to the skin world” and was being stored “like a prisoner.” He additionally reached out to producers, saying Natalia was in peril and wanted assist.

When producers “rushed” to Tennessee after the cellphone name from the Manses, nevertheless, everybody was appearing as if nothing was unsuitable.

“This man simply fully flipped Natalia’s thoughts towards her household. She was simply manipulated in that second. He satisfied Natalia that what he was saying was proper and we have been unsuitable and he or she was planning on going to the UK to be with this guys,” Cynthia advised cameras.

Cynthia additionally mentioned she thought the person would attainable maintain her for “ransom” or visitors her, inflicting them to chop her off from the web.

“I believed I used to be in love, however it wasn’t proper,” Natalia then mentioned. “I wasn’t pondering clearly and there’s something I would like each woman my age and youthful to know … I do know that, particularly at this age, you wish to meet anyone, you wish to be with anyone, however do not attempt to do stuff by yourself, as a result of it isn’t protected. I actually nearly left dwelling as a result of I believed I used to be in love. I nearly left my household.”

However Natalia and Neil stored speaking, hiding their messages to 1 one other through the use of Duolingo, which Natalia nonetheless had entry to. She allegedly advised Neil that she was dwelling in “ache continuously” and was even having “issues along with her interval” whereas dwelling with the Manses, claiming that they had additionally “robbed” her to purchase a house.

Natalia, Neil and the DePauls then labored out a plan to get Natalia out from the Manses dwelling, with Nicole selecting her up from church after Natalia excused herself to make use of the restroom. Certainly one of Natalia’s first calls after moving into Nicole’s automobile was to Neil.

Whereas dwelling with the DePauls, Nicole mentioned she might overhear moaning “like a porno” coming from Natalia’s room — in addition to her saying Neil’s identify. “I might solely deduce they have been having video intercourse, cellphone intercourse,” mentioned Nicole, who soundproofed Natalia’s room whereas including that there is nothing unsuitable with two consenting adults getting frisky over the cellphone. “I do not care, I used to be like, ‘You go woman!’” exclaimed Nicole.

Nicole later claimed the Manses presumably had sexual feedback and presumably images of Natalia and Neil from their correspondences, which she believed was getting used to blackmail Natalia into not talking out about them. Natalia, in the meantime, admitted she fearful the Manses would “slander” Neil and their relationship.

At one level, Natalia thought of transferring again in with the Manses — however Nicole claimed Neil was the one who talked her out of it, telling her she wanted to stick with the DePauls. Finally, Natalia lower ties with the Manses fully.

Certainly one of her first acts of independence from them was a visit to the UK, the place she visited Neil in particular person. Their go to was not proven on the particular, although she was seen getting a mini-makeover earlier than the journey — earlier than saying she was a “a lot happier particular person” after going overseas. She additionally mentioned she deliberate to journey extra sooner or later, after taking her very first flight ever to go to him.

“He legit cares,” she added of Neil towards the top of the collection.

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Ultimate Chapter airs in 4 elements — with two episodes of Monday, January 6 and Tuesday, January 7 on ID and streaming on Max.