Couple with dwarfism who hoped to adopt Ukrainian girl with the same condition say they have proof she is NOT an adult posing as a child, as the adopted family who 'abandoned' her claim

  • Vincent and Nicole DePaul, who both have a form of dwarfism, wanted to adopt Ukrainian-born Natalia in 2009
  • Natalia, who also has dwarfism, was adopted in 2010 by Michael and Kristine Barnett, from Indiana 
  • The Barnetts claim Natalia posed as a nine-year-old but was actually 22 years old at the time of adoption and say she tried to kill the family
  • But the DePauls, who spent multiple weekends with Natalia, say the claims are 'ridiculous' and they have paperwork which shows her birth year as 2003

A couple who initially hoped to adopt the Ukrainian-born girl with dwarfism who was allegedly abandoned by her adopted family, say they have proof she is a child and not posing as an adult as has been alleged. 

Vincent and Nicole DePaul, who both have a form of dwarfism, tell Inside Edition they wanted to adopt Natalia Grace in 2009 before she was taken in by Michael and Kristine Barnett in 2010. 

The Barnetts claim that Natalia was actually a grown 22-year-old woman posing as a nine-year-old child who tried to kill them and would later be charged with abandonment when they left her at an Indiana apartment to fend for herself. 

But the DePauls, from Albany, New York, say there is no way she can be an adult, providing adoption papers that show her birth year as 2003 and say: 'She looked like a child, she acted like a child. Do I look like a kid? I'm a dwarf.'

Vincent and Nicole DePaul, who both have a form of dwarfism, wanted to adopt Ukrainian-born Natalia in 2009

Vincent and Nicole DePaul, who both have a form of dwarfism, wanted to adopt Ukrainian-born Natalia in 2009

The DePauls, who spent multiple weekends with Natalia, say the Barnetts' claims are 'ridiculous' and have paperwork which shows her birth year as 2003

The DePauls, who spent multiple weekends with Natalia, say the Barnetts' claims are 'ridiculous' and have paperwork which shows her birth year as 2003

Natalia's story came to light last month when DailyMailTV spoke with Kristine Barnett, 45, as she and her ex-husband Michael, 43, were alleged to have dumped Natalia at an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana in 2013 before moving to Canada one month later and breaking off contact.

Police said the girl was left to fend for herself for three years despite having a rare form of dwarfism that means she is 3ft tall and has problems walking.

But in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, Kristine insisted Natalia was not a nine year old - as charging documents claim - she was actually 22.

Barnett said the true victims were her and her family who were terrorized for years by the mysterious impostor who threatened to stab them in their sleep, pushed her towards an electric fence and poured bleach in her coffee.

But the DePauls say that's not physically possible. 

'If me or my wife tried to push someone into an electric fence, it wouldn't go that well,' Vincent told Inside Edition in an episode airing Thursday.

'Imagine someone who's struggling to walk pushing an average size woman into a fence. It's ludicrous,' he added. 

The DePauls called the Barnetts' claims ridiculous. 

Natalia, pictured days after being collected from her Florida adoption center in May 2010 by the Barnetts, soon had her new parents suspicious as she had her period and an adult vocabulary

Natalia, pictured days after being collected from her Florida adoption center in May 2010 by the Barnetts, soon had her new parents suspicious as she had her period and an adult vocabulary

Michael Barnett
Kristine Barnett

Michael Barnett surrendered to authorities on September 18 and was released on $5,000 bail. A hearing has been set for September 2. Kristine Barnett surrendered to authorities on Thursday, September 19 and was released after posting a $5,500 bond.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV last month, Kristine (pictured) alleged that Natalia had attacked other kids, poured bleach in her coffee and threatened to stab family members and hide their bodies in the backyard

Kristine Barnett, 45, (pictured) and ex-husband Michael Barnett, 43 were charged with abandoning their daughter, then 9, in Lafayette, Indiana, and fleeing to Canada in 2013. But Kristine denies the claims and says she and Michael were victims of a fraud, stating the girl they adopted was an adult con artist who tried to kill her

Natalia stayed with the DePauls for multiple long weekends when they were looking to adopt her, but ultimately decided not to follow through with the adoption. 

They have photos with her and claim that she was missing a tooth at the time and could see another one coming in. 

The DePauls still had stacks of paperwork that list her birthday as September 4, 2003 - which would make her 16 years old. 

However, after the Barnetts came forward with the accusations, a 2012 court decision declared Natalia an adult after her year of birth was changed from 2003 to 1989.  

But Kristine still maintains Natalia would 'make statements and draw pictures saying she wanted to kill family members, roll them up in a blanket and put them in the backyard.' 

Kristine said she questioned Natalia's true age when they noticed she had pubic hair, was having periods and possessed a vocabulary way beyond her years. 

The Barnetts were charged with two counts of felony neglect which could carry a combined maximum prison sentence of five and a half years.

Social media photos show Natalia was taken in by Christian couple Antwon Mans (pictured) 36, and wife Cynthia, and their five kids in suburban Indianapolis

Social media photos show Natalia was taken in by Christian couple Antwon Mans (pictured) 36, and wife Cynthia, and their five kids in suburban Indianapolis

DailyMail.com revealed that Natalia is now living with a Christian couple from Indiana and their five kids.

Her new 'dad', 36-year-old Antwon Mans, was recently ordained as a pastor and lives in a former church parsonage with his wife Cynthia, 39, a former McDonald's manager.

The devout couple are aware of the questions swirling around the true age of their Ukrainian 'daughter', who is barely taller than a toddler because of the bone disorder spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia.

But images posted to social media make clear they treat the diminutive female as a child, dressing her in colorful kids clothes and captioning a photo of Natalia and a young playmate: 'sweetest best friends ever.' 

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