Who Is Kristine Barnett? Wiki, Age, Husband, Children, Net Worth & Family

Kristine Barnett is an American author, speaker, and advocate for children with autism. She is best known for her memoir The Spark, which tells the story of her son Jacob, a prodigy in mathematics and physics who was diagnosed with autism at age two. She is also known for her controversial adoption of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl with dwarfism who the Barnetts claimed was an adult posing as a child.

Early Life and Education

Kristine Barnett was born in the United States, but her exact date and place of birth are not publicly known. She grew up in a middle-class family and attended public schools. She was interested in art and music, but she struggled academically and dropped out of college after one semester. She married Michael Barnett, a software engineer, in 1996 and they settled in Indiana.

Kristine Barnett Wiki/Bio

NameKristine Barnett
BornUnited States
ChildrenNatalia Grace, Jacob Barnett
BooksThe Spark
SpouseMichael Barnett (m. ?–2014)
Instagramkristinebarnett
Homepagenewsunzip.com

Career and Achievements

Kristine Barnett started a daycare center in her garage in 1996, serving local families. She soon realized that some of the children in her care had special needs, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. She decided to create a curriculum that focused on their strengths and passions, rather than their weaknesses and limitations. She also founded a non-profit organization called Jacob’s Place, which provides support and resources for autistic and special-needs children and their families.

In 2013, Kristine Barnett published her memoir The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing Genius and Autism, co-written with Margot Starbuck. The book chronicles her journey with her son Jacob, who was diagnosed with autism at age two and later revealed to be a genius in astronomy and mathematics. The book became a bestseller and received positive reviews from critics and readers. It was also nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Memoir & Autobiography in 2013.

Personal Life, Spouse & Kids

Kristine Barnett married Michael Barnett in 1996 and they had three sons: Jacob, Wesley, and Ethan. Jacob was born in 1998 and was diagnosed with autism at age two. He showed signs of extraordinary intelligence and taught himself calculus, algebra, and geometry by age eight. He also developed an interest in astrophysics and quantum physics and started working on his theory of relativity. He became a paid researcher at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada at age 12 and enrolled in the University of Waterloo at age 15. He is currently pursuing a PhD in physics at the California Institute of Technology.

In 2010, the Barnetts adopted Natalia Grace, a six-year-old girl from Ukraine who had a rare form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. However, they soon became suspicious of her age and behavior and alleged that she was an adult with a mental disorder who tried to harm them and their biological children. They claimed that she had pubic hair, menstrual cycles, and adult teeth and that she threatened to kill them, poisoned Kristine’s coffee, and pushed Kristine toward an electric fence. They also said that she spoke with a sophisticated vocabulary and admitted to being older than she claimed.

In 2012, the Barnetts filed a petition to have Natalia’s age legally changed from eight to 22, based on a bone density test and a court ruling. They also applied for her social security number, disability benefits, and health insurance. In 2013, they moved to Canada with their three sons, leaving Natalia behind in an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana. They claimed that they paid for her rent and utilities and tried to find her a new family, but Natalia denied this and said that they abandoned her and cut off all contact with her.

In 2019, the Barnetts were charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent, a felony, after a five-year investigation by the police. They were arrested and released on bail, and they pleaded not guilty. They maintained their stance that Natalia was an adult and a fraud and that they were the victims of a scam. They also accused Natalia of having a form of dwarfism called diastrophic dysplasia, which affects the cartilage and bone development and causes the appearance of a child.

Controversies

In 2022, Michael Barnett was found not guilty of all charges after a trial, while the charges against Kristine Barnett were dropped in 2023 due to insufficient evidence. The case attracted widespread media attention and public interest and sparked debates about adoption, disability, and identity.

Natalia Grace, who is now 22 years old according to a DNA test, lives with a new adoptive family in Indiana and denies the Barnetts’ allegations. She says that she is still a child and that she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and abandonment issues. She also participated in a documentary series called The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, which aired on ID in January 2024.

Physical Stats

WeightIn Kilograms: 58 kg
In Pounds: 128 lbs
HeightIn Feet Inches: 5′ 6″
In Meters: 1.67 m
In Centimetres: 167 cm
Hair ColorBlonde.
Eye ColorBlue.
Shoe Size6 US.
PiercingEars.

Net Worth

Kristine Barnett’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million, according to various sources. She earns money from her book sales, speaking engagements, and daycare center. She also receives donations for her non-profit organization, Jacob’s Place. She lives in Florida and is divorced from Michael Barnett, who remarried in 2016. She has three sons, Jacob, Wesley, and Ethan, and a former adoptive daughter, Natalia Grace.

The Truth Behind the Curious Case of Natalia Grace

A new docuseries on Investigation Discovery has reignited the controversy surrounding Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan who was adopted by an American couple in 2010, and later accused of being an adult posing as a child. The series, titled “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks”, features interviews with Natalia herself, who claims that she was abused and abandoned by her former adoptive parents, Kristine and Michael Barnett.

However, Kristine Barnett has refuted Natalia’s allegations in a public statement, calling her a “sociopath” who relies on public sympathy to get what she wants. In this article, we will examine the facts and the claims of both sides and try to shed some light on this bizarre and complex case.

Who is Natalia Grace?

Natalia Grace was born in Ukraine in 2003, according to her birth certificate. She suffers from a rare form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, which affects her bone growth and causes other health problems. She was adopted by an American couple, Kristine and Michael Barnett, in 2010, when they believed she was six years old. The Barnetts already had three biological children, one of whom was a child prodigy with autism. They moved from Florida to Indiana to provide better education and care for their children.

However, soon after adopting Natalia, the Barnetts started to suspect that she was not a child, but an adult. They claimed that she had signs of puberty, such as menstrual bleeding and pubic hair, and that she exhibited violent and manipulative behavior, such as threatening to kill them, pouring bleach in Kristine’s coffee, and pushing her towards an electric fence. They also said that she spoke with a sophisticated vocabulary and that she confessed to being older than she claimed.

The Barnetts took Natalia to various doctors and therapists, who gave conflicting opinions on her age. Some said she was a child, while others said she was an adult. The Barnetts eventually obtained a court order in 2012, which changed Natalia’s birth year from 2003 to 1989, making her 22 years old at the time. They also claimed that Natalia was diagnosed with a personality disorder and a form of dwarfism that causes a person to appear younger than they are.

In 2013, the Barnetts moved to Canada, where their son was attending a prestigious physics institute. They left Natalia in an apartment in Indiana and paid for her rent and utilities. They said they tried to help her find a new family, and that they stayed in touch with her until she cut off contact with them. They also said that Natalia chose to live with another family, the Mans, who took her in after meeting her at a church.

However, Natalia has a different version of the story. She says that she was indeed a child when the Barnetts adopted her and that she never lied about her age. She says that she was abused and neglected by the Barnetts, who treated her differently from their other children, and who tried to get rid of her. She says that they changed her age without her consent and that they abandoned her in an apartment without any support or supervision. She says that she was scared and lonely and that she had to rely on the kindness of strangers and neighbors to survive. She also says that she never wanted to leave the Barnetts and that she still considers them her parents.

Natalia’s story gained public attention in 2019 when the Barnetts were arrested and charged with neglect of a dependent, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison. The case is still pending in court, and the Barnetts have pleaded not guilty. Natalia, meanwhile, has been living with the Mans, who consider her their daughter, and who have filed a petition to become her legal guardians. Natalia has also appeared in several media interviews, and in the new docuseries, where she tells her side of the story.

Kristine Barnett is an American author, speaker, and advocate for children with autism. She is best known for her memoir The Spark, which tells the story of her son Jacob, a prodigy in mathematics and physics who was diagnosed with autism at age two. She is also known for her controversial adoption of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl with dwarfism who the Barnetts claimed was an adult posing as a child. She founded a daycare center and a non-profit organization for autistic and special-needs children and their families. She lives in Florida and is divorced from Michael Barnett, who remarried in 2016. She has three sons, Jacob, Wesley, and Ethan, and a former adoptive daughter, Natalia Grace.

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