Antwon and Cynthia Mans Abuse Allegations: What Natalia Grace’s Adoptive Parents Were Accused Of

After escaping what seemed to be a nightmare living with former adoptive parents Michael Barnett and Kristine Barnett, Natalia Grace moved on to a new life with Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans, a couple who adopted the disabled Ukraine native after finding her living on her own in Lafayette, Indiana. However, another nightmare unfolded when the Manses were accused of physical abuse, financial fraud and more in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter.

Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans Were Accused of Holding Natalia Grace ‘Hostage’

Natalia moved in with Antwon and Cynthia in 2013, shortly after Michael and Kristine left her alone in an apartment in Lafayette because they alleged that Natalia was an adult purporting to be a child. After proving with a DNA test that Natalia was a child when she had been living alone and legally adopting her, the Manses moved their family to Tennessee.

Six months later, Natalia met her online boyfriend named Neil, who lives in the U.K. According to texts from Neil shown during the Investigation Discovery docuseries, Natalia said that Antwon and Cynthia were holding her “hostage” and that she was tired of being kept isolated from the outside world. She decided to leave the family and move to the U.K., but Antwon and Cynthia found out about her plan and convinced her to stay. They also took away her phone and internet access.

Neil became concerned for Natalia and tracked down Nicole DePaul and Vince DePaul, a couple who tried to adopt her in 2009. He claimed that the Manses were neglecting Natalia’s medical needs and keeping her under their very strict control. Nicole got in contact with Natalia, who made similar claims and begged to be rescued.

Nicole and her daughter, Mackenzie, traveled to Tennessee to pick up Natalia and bring her back to their home in Upstate New York. However, Natalia still defended Cynthia and Antwon in front of the documentary’s cameras, leading Nicole and the documentary team to investigate the couple further.

Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans Were Accused of Abuse

A handful of people came forward during The Final Chapter with claims that Antwon and Cynthia were physically abusive toward Natalia and other children. One man named Robert Madewell claimed that Cynthia babysat his son from 2019 to 2022. Robert’s son, whose identity was concealed in the doc, said that Cynthia allegedly refused to let him go to the bathroom, which led the toddler to soil himself. He also claimed that Cynthia hit his son and other children in her care.

“Miss Cynthia would whoop me; she would hit me on the bottom and they were very violent,” Robert’s son said. “She had a belt she would whoop us with … each one at a time and she would sometimes slap Natalia in the face.”

Another man named Matthew Newlin, who lived with the Manses, claimed that he watched Antwon “brutally” beat Natalia with a belt.

“It was just out of aggression. Natalia was shaking, tears were rolling down her face,” Matthew said.

Matthew’s ex-wife, Anna Newlin, who signed over guardianship of their kids to the Manses when they had marital issues, said on camera that she was never “worried” about the couple and that their parenting was “nowhere near on the verge of abuse.” However, her statement contradicted a previous phone call with producers where she allegedly said, “Natalia used to get beat on all the time. They were violent to her. Cynthia sometimes. Antwon more so.”

The Final Chapter stated that Cynthia and Antwon did not respond to requests for comment regarding the abuse allegations made against them.

Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans Were Accused of Financial Fraud

In addition to the claims of physical abuse, the doc included accusations that Antwon and Cynthia adopted Natalia and other children for money. After Nicole rescued Natalia, she learned that Cynthia was the “payee” for Natalia’s social security benefits and that Natalia had been giving the Manses her money for several years. The Ukraine native continued to give the couple her money even after she moved in with the DePauls.

“The DePauls have taken Natalia in, but she doesn’t have any savings. She had money from Dr. Phil, from GoFundMe and other media interviews, but she gave that money to the Manses,” legal expert Beth Karas said. “So, OK, she has her SSI benefits, right? About $800 a month. No, she doesn’t. She tells Cynthia that she can still be ‘payee’ of her SSI benefits, which, by the way, is potentially illegal.”

Nicole also discovered that Natalia did not have any form of ID or her own bank account, so any money she earned automatically went to Cynthia.

“Cynthia and Antwon — they steal from Natalia. And now I feel like they’re stealing from me. They have her money going into their bank account. They won’t give her an ID to get her own bank account,” Nicole claimed. “All of it does not add up. I feel like it’s a slap in the face. I don’t understand why Natalia would give away her money to people she just literally had to flee from. So now are we expected to pay for everything? Am I an ATM? I don’t get it.”

Robert also claimed that Cynthia asked him to sign over guardianship of his son on multiple occasions. “I believe Miss Cynthia wanted my kid so she could get a check off of him,” he added.

Did Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans Go to Jail Over the Abuse Allegations?

Antwon and Cynthia were not investigated regarding the claims made in the documentary, Sarah R. Sommer, the director of communications for the office of the mayor in Crawfordsville, Indiana, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

“After speaking with our Chief of Police, I can confirm that there is currently no ongoing investigation involving Antwon and Cynthia Mans or their residence,” Sommer wrote in an email to the outlet, the publication reported.