One of the most bizarre cases that’s yet to offer a definite and irrefutable answer would be the case of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl who at age six was adopted by a couple from Indiana in 2010.
Natalia was diagnosed with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia – a rare congenital bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism. However, her new family instantly became suspicious that the girl they had adopted was so much older than she looked, even claiming that Natalia had violent tendencies.
This haunting family saga is further explored in the new documentary series, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, now streaming in Australia. Find out how you can watch episodes here.
What’s in this Guide?
What’s The Curious Case of Natalia Grace about?
Michael and Kristine Barnett adopted Natalia Grace in 2010 at age six, taking the name Natalia Grace Barnett. The family quickly grew suspicious of her, claiming she was an adult pretending to be a child and how she tried to hurt them several times.
Two years later, her adoptive parents received a court order to change her legal age from eight to 22 years old, allowing them to leave Natalia, who started living in a rented apartment alone. The couple then moved to Canada with their biological children.
But things only got worse for the Barnetts when, in 2019, social services began an investigation to take legal action against the couple for neglecting a child.
Of course, the case rested on whether Natalia was actually a child or not. The charges for both Michael and Kristine were eventually dropped. Still, the nagging mystery of Natalia’s real identity remains as the Barnett family was adamant about their claims.
The Natalia Grace documentary mainly features Michael Barnett’s testimony, sharing his side of things and delving into events that aroused their suspicions. Even up to now, the truth remains elusive.
Natalia says she was the victim when the Barnetts adopted her, only to abuse and neglect her as a child; the Barnetts say she was an adult pretending to be a child with wicked intentions to harm her adopted family.
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace also features never-before-seen footage and testimonies from numerous guests in its attempt to answer the mystifying question: who is Natalia Grace and who the real villain is?
The story of Natalia Grace has since been considered by the media to be eerily similar to the 2009 horror film Orphan, starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Vera Farmiga, and Peter Sarsgaard. A second chapter, Natalia Speaks, has just been released by Investigation Discovery with Natalia sharing her side of the story.
The Curious Case of Natalia Grace Australia air date
In Australia, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace episodes aired from 2 September 2023. A second chapter, Natalia Speaks, recently premiered here last 6 January 2024.
If you haven’t see the documentary yet, you can catch new episodes on streaming via BINGE. You can also watch the replays on Foxtel’s Investigation Discovery Channel, which is also available on Foxtel Now.
As of this writing, only Foxtel and Foxtel Now offers complete episodes from seasons 1 and 2 (BINGE only has the second season).
| Season 2 | Run Time | Streaming Services |
|---|---|---|
| Episodes 1 | 43 mins | BINGE / Foxtel Now |
| Episode 2 | 43 mins | BINGE / Foxtel Now |
| Episode 3 | 43 mins | BINGE / Foxtel Now |
| Episode 4 | 43 mins | BINGE / Foxtel Now |
| Episode 5 | 43 mins | BINGE / Foxtel Now |
| Episode 6 | 43 mins | BINGE / Foxtel Now |
Where to watch The Curious Case of Natalia Grace in Australia?
The 2023 Natalia Grace documentary is an Investigation Discovery exclusive. In Australia, Investigation Discovery content is available on Foxtel and Foxtel Now. BINGE also streams new episodes from season 2.
As of this writing, they’ve been the only platforms to confirm the show’s premiere on their services.
FeaturedStream The Curious Case of Natalia Grace on BINGE
New episodes from the second instalment titled “Natalia Speaks” are currently streaming on BINGE, which also offers an extensive catalogue of content from Investigation Discovery alongside Foxtel. With a BINGE free trial, you can instantly watch every episode from season 2 on demand.
You can then choose from three streaming tiers to watch the latest movies and BINGE shows on demand. A Basic subscription with Ads allows you to stream on one device.
A Standard Plan enables you to enjoy your favourite shows or movies on two devices. A Premium Plan lets you stream on four simultaneously. Both Standard and Premium also offer 4K streaming on selected content. All BINGE plans have no lock-in contract.
Watch The Curious Case of Natalia Grace on Foxtel or Foxtel Now
To watch The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, Australia has Foxtel airing the series via Investigation Discovery. Fortunately, the channel is already part of the Foxtel Plus + Favourites bundle. Even better, new customers can even save for up to 12 months on plan fees with Foxtel’s latest offers.
You can also stream the docuseries about Natalia Grace ob Foxtel Now. Even easier for new customers, Foxtel Now has a free 10-day trial for trying the service, plus an ongoing All Packs offer that’ll save new users on plan fees for 12 months.
To stream The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, Australia has Investigation Discovery airing the show, which is part of the Docos Pack. You’ll then need to pick the All Packs bundle (which includes the required Docos Pack),after free trial to keep accessing content from this channel.
Is the Natalia Grace documentary on Netflix?
The new true crime series isn’t on Netflix yet. It’s an Investigation Discovery exclusive, which means only Foxtel and Foxtel Now have broadcasting/streaming rights as of this writing.
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The Curious Case of Natalia Grace trailer
You can watch the trailer for The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which explores the bizarre story of Natalia Barnett, right here:
Who appears in the Natalia Grace documentary?
The documentary tackling Natalia Grace’s story features interviews from the Barnett family, including Michael Barnett, Kristine Barnett, and Jake Barnett. Legal expert Beth Karas also appears in the series.
Later in the documentary, Natalia Grace Barnett’s mother, Anna Gava, was confirmed to be her biological parent after giving a DNA test.
Other documentaries you might like
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