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Antwon and Cynthia Mans took in Ukrainian orphan Natalia Grace after her former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, abandoned her by renting an apartment for her in Indiana, believing she was in her 20s, before running off and moving to Canada.
However, life remained tumultuous for Natalia, as Antwon and Cynthia Mans later faced accusations of abuse and financial fraud.
How Did Antwon and Cynthia Mans Meet Natalia Grace?
Michael and Kristine originally adopted Natalia in 2010, believing her to be a 6-year-old at the time. Shortly after she joined the family, the couple began to suspect their newly adopted daughter was actually an adult living with a severe form of dwarfism. After living with Natalia for two years, a judge approved Michael and Kristine Barnett’s petition to change her birth year. In 2013, they rented her an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, and left her there as they moved to Canada with their sons.
While living in her Lafayette apartment, Natalia was introduced to Cynthia Mans by a kind neighbor. Within a few days of their meeting, Cynthia invited Natalia to live with them. Three years later, Cynthia and Antwon applied to become Natalia’s legal guardian.
Antwon and Cynthia Mans Were Accused of Abuse and Financial Fraud in ‘The Final Chapter’
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace explored Natalia’s case at large and season 3 revealed even more drama unfolded after the Ukraine native moved in with her new legal guardians.
Natalia revealed that she met a man named Neil from the U.K. online, and after chatting for a while, he became her boyfriend. She expressed a desire to move overseas to be with her new love interest and leave the Mans family, claiming to Neil that they had been keeping her isolated in their home for years. However, when Cynthia and Antwon discovered her romance with Neil, they persuaded her to stay and took away her phone and internet access.
Neil grew concerned for Natalia’s well-being and contacted Nicole and Vince DePaul, a couple from Upstate New York who had attempted to adopt her in 2009. Neil alleged that the Manses were holding Natalia hostage and neglecting her medical needs. Nicole eventually managed to speak with Natalia, who echoed these claims and pleaded to be rescued. In response, Nicole and her daughter traveled to Indiana to bring Natalia back to their home in Upstate New York, where she has lived ever since.
While investigating Natalia’s situation, Nicole uncovered that Natalia had been handing over all her Social Security benefits and other supplemental income to Cynthia for years, as Cynthia had convinced her to make her the “payee.” Others featured in the documentary, including a man named Robert, who had hired Cynthia to babysit his son, alleged that Cynthia and Antwon adopted children with disabilities and became their “payee” to take control of their income.
In addition to the financial fraud, a man named Matt Newlin, who once lived with the Manses, claimed that he witnessed Antwon “brutally batter” Natalia with a belt. Matt’s ex-wife, Anna Newlin, also alleged that Natalia was kicked down a flight of stairs. When asked by producers about the accusations, Natalia said, “I don’t want to talk about that.”
Are Antwon and Cynthia Mans in Jail After Being Accused of Abuse and Financial Fraud?
Sarah R. Sommer, the director of communications for the office of the mayor in Crawfordsville, Indiana, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter in January 2025 that Cynthia and Antwon were not currently being investigated for abuse or financial fraud.
“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, according to the outlet.
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