As anticipation builds for the upcoming Season 3 of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, producers of the gripping documentary series have shed light on the central mystery surrounding the narrative’s conclusion. This final installment shifts its focus from Natalia’s former adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, to her new legal guardians, Cynthia and Antwon Mans.
Initially, it appeared that Natalia was on the path to a stable and happy life with her new guardians. However, the dynamics took a troubling turn by the conclusion of the follow-up series, Natalia Speaks. Just six months following the finalization of her adoption, the Mans family contacted producers expressing their desire to sever ties with Natalia, stating, “she’s the enemy in the house… We’re done with her.”
The Financial Uncertainty of Natalia Grace
Upon their arrival in Natalia’s life, the Mans couple assumed control over her finances, listing themselves as her payees while she was still a minor. Throughout the series, Cynthia and Antwon openly acknowledge utilizing funds from her appearance on the Dr. Phil show to purchase their family residence in Tennessee.
Allegations of abuse and manipulation have prompted Natalia’s boyfriend to seek assistance from the DePaul family, who previously expressed the desire to adopt Natalia in 2012. In a turn of events, Nicole DePaul and her daughter intervened, rescuing Natalia from her challenging circumstances in Tennessee and bringing her to their home in upstate New York. During this transition, it becomes evident that Natalia has lost access to her financial resources, lacking a bank account, passport, and any personal funds of her own.
Throughout The Curious Case of Natalia Grace Season 3, Nicole poignantly articulates her discontent with the situation, especially as Natalia decides to maintain Cynthia and Antwon as her payees. This decision allows them to continue receiving her disability benefits. Tensions escalate when Natalia is confronted with a significant tax obligation stemming from funds she did not utilize, only to discover that the Manses are unwilling to resolve the issue, leaving Natalia and the DePauls to navigate the fallout.
While the third season concludes on a hopeful note for Natalia, key questions regarding the Manses’ financial dealings remain unresolved, such as whether they have settled the tax bill or if they agreed to formally transfer the ownership of the house purchased with Natalia’s funds to her name.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Eric and Shannon Evangelista, co-founders of Hot Snakes Media and producers of the documentary, shared their insights regarding the financial matters. Shannon admitted, “No, I don’t,” when asked about the Mans family’s financial handling of Natalia’s situation, noting considerable complexity surrounding GoFundMe accounts that were not fully disclosed to the production team.
Interestingly, it is revealed within the series that Natalia’s compensation from the Dr. Phil show is estimated to be around $300,000, yet there is no evidence suggesting that she benefited from this amount.
Despite past hardships, Shannon confirmed that Natalia has found a sense of happiness and is gradually healing from the trauma she has experienced. “I think that Natalia is a survivor. She has shown remarkable strength,”Shannon stated, adding, “We’re able to confirm that she is safe and well taken care of.” She emphasized Natalia’s resilience, stating, “She’s a very strong, intelligent young woman capable of overcoming tremendous adversity.”
Police Involvement in Abuse Allegations
Another pressing question surrounds potential police investigations into allegations of abuse against the Mans family. The series indicates that producers promptly notified law enforcement about these accusations, yet due to the sensitive nature of cases involving minors, officials have not provided any commentary.
Shannon elaborated, stating, “Whenever minors are involved, police departments are typically very careful about commenting,” emphasizing that the priority is maintaining individual privacy. “We immediately reported the allegations against the Manses to law enforcement,” she reassured.
The final chapter of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace premieres over two nights starting Monday, January 6, at 9/8c on ID and will be available for streaming on Max. Viewers can also explore additional insights into earlier episodes, including remarks from Freddie Gill regarding Natalia’s actual age and highlights from the best true crime documentaries of 2024.
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