What Natalia Grace’s adoptive parents were accused of

After escaping what appeared to be a nightmare, living with former adoptive parents Michael Barnett and Christine Barnett, Natalia Grace moved on to a new life with Antwon Man’s and Cynthia Mansa couple who adopted the disabled Ukrainian native after finding her living alone in Lafayette, Indiana. But another nightmare unfolded as Manses was 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 a Lafayette apartment because they claimed Natalia was an adult pretending to be a child. After proving with a DNA test that Natalia was a child since she had lived alone and legally adopting her, the Manses moved their family to Tennessee.

Six months later, Natalia met her online boyfriend by name Neilwho live in the UK. According to texts from Neil shown during the Investigation Discovery documents, 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 UK, but Antwon and Cynthia found out about her plan and convinced her to stay. They also took her phone and internet access.

Neil became worried about Natalia and tracked down Nicole DePaul and Vince DePaula couple who tried to adopt her in 2009. He claimed that the Manses neglected Natalia’s medical needs and kept her under their very strict control. Nicole contacted Natalia, who made similar claims and asked to be rescued.

Nicole and her daughter, Mackenzietraveled 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 crew to investigate the couple further.

Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans were charged with abuse

A handful of people came forward along the way The last chapter with allegations that Antwon and Cynthia were physically abusive to Natalia and other children. A man named Robert Madewell claimed Cynthia was babysitting her son from 2019 to 2022. Robert’s son, whose identity was withheld in the doc., said Cynthia allegedly refused to let him go to the bathroom, prompting the toddler to soil himself. He also claimed that Cynthia beat his son and other children in her care.

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

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

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

Matthew’s ex-wife, Anna Newlin, who signed over the guardianship of their children to the Manses when they were having marital problems, said on camera that she was never “concerned” about the couple and that their parenting was “nowhere near the brink of abuse.” But her statement contradicted an earlier phone call with producers, in which she reportedly said: “Natalia used to get hit on all the time. They were violent with her. Cynthia sometimes. Antwon more.”

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

Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans were charged with financial fraud

In addition to the allegations of physical abuse, the doctor included allegations that Antwon and Cynthia adopted Natalia and other children for money. After Nicole rescued Natalia, she found out that Cynthia was the “recipient” of 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 transferred to DePaul’s.

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

Nicole also discovered that Natalia had no form of ID or her own bank account, so the money she earned automatically went to Cynthia.

“Cynthia and Antwon – they’re stealing from Natalia. And now I feel like they’re stealing from me. They have her money in their bank account. They won’t give her an ID to get her own bank account,” Nicole claimed “The whole thing doesn’t add up I don’t feel like it’s a slap in the face I don’t understand why Natalia would give away her money to people she literally had to run from paying for everything Am I an ATM?

Robert also claimed that Cynthia asked him to sign over his son’s guardianship on several occasions. “I think Miss Cynthia wanted my child so she could have a check on him,” he added.

Did Antwon Mans and Cynthia Mans go to jail on the abuse charges?

Antwon and Cynthia were not investigated for the allegations in the documentary, Sarah R. Summerconfirmed the director of communications for the mayor’s office in Crawfordsville, Indiana The Hollywood Reporter.

“After speaking with our police chief, 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.