Natalia Grace.Photo:Investigation Discovery/YouTube
Investigation Discovery/YouTube
Viewers ofThe Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speakswere not the only ones left stunned at thefinal moments of the ID show.
The President of ID, Jason Sarlanis, tells PEOPLE that the network was “thoroughly shocked” when Antwon and Cynthia Mans, the couple that took Natalia in more than a decade ago and legally adopted her in 2023, revealed that their relationship with her had deteriorated.
“We genuinely thought Natalia had found a happy ending with her new family, so you can imagine we were all thoroughly shocked when that call came from The Mans,” said Jason Sarlanis, President of Turner Networks, ID & HLN, Linear and Streaming.
In the closing minutes of the final episode, Antwon claimed to show producers in a voiceover that, “Something ain’t right with Natalia. This girl is tweaking."
“I feel like she’s the enemy in the house. And she said to us, we have held her hostage. Made us look like we’re the enemy.”
Sarlanis said the final episode was “already finished and locked, but we instantly mobilized with our producers to ensure that this shocking development was included in our finale. Our viewers are so invested in Natalia’s case we felt our series needed to reflect the constantly shifting truth of her situation. One thing has always proven to be true with Natalia’s story - nothing is ever what it seems.”
Natalia Grace.Investigation Discovery/YouTube
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In 2013, the Barnetts moved with their three sons to Canada without Natalia, leaving her as a child alone in an apartment in Lafayette.
The Barnetts were charged with neglect of a dependent. Prosecutors weren’t able to charge them with neglect of a child because of Natalia’s court-ordered age change to 22.
The Barnett family.Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Michael was found not guilty of three counts of neglect and conspiracy to commit neglect of a dependent in 2022, theAssociated Pressreported. Charges against Kristine were later dropped, according toWTHR.
In the series, Michael blamed Kristine for abandoning Natalia and asked Natalia for forgiveness, which she eventually gave.
“Natalia is stabbing her family in the back over a complete lie,” Cynthia Mans said on the phone call in the finale’s shocking twist.
“She’s done other things too, but this was a new low,” Antwon said. “Natalia does not have emotions for nothing but herself. We’re done. We’re done with her.”
A title card at the end of the show read, “Natalia’s story will continue.”
source: people.com
