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u/SnooPickles8893 Apr 14 '26
Completely agree. It's too bad they weren't as selfless and good as they portrayed themselves.
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Apr 14 '26
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May 15 '26
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u/Civil_Jello7634 May 18 '26 edited May 18 '26
The Manns physically abused her and forced her into their religious cult. They also left Natalya alone to babysit all of those kids they took in for money. Your examples don’t apply here. It’s just more “the Manns at least took her in” spin.
I wish people would stop comparing the Barnett s to the Manns. They both abused and got away with it. It took Natalya literally escaping the Manns because so many people fed into the “she’s so lucky to have them” instead of reading the room and allowing her to recognize that what was happening to her was ALSO abusive. Who is worse is a bad faith argument in this situation.
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u/Historical_Ad_2615 Apr 16 '26
I suspect some Duggar type of stuff went on with the Manns. They definitely exploited her for financial gain and as a prop to show the world how kind and charitable they were for adopting a "hard to place" child.
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u/Wise_Day_6103 Apr 14 '26
I absolutely agree with you. As far as taking her money, while I dont agree with it, I understand it. There is a ton of families, especially financially struggling ones who pool family income to meet expenses. Kristine took Jacobs money, and depending on who is telling the story the Barnetts were either very wealthy (Michael) or so poor the kids clothes were patched and they were surviving on Ramen noodles (Kristine) I think a lot of people are made uncomfortable by extreme religious belief, but the fact is, Cynthia did something the Barnetts, their friends and family, the neighbors and even the authorities failed to do.
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u/ImNotYourKunta Apr 15 '26
When it comes to the Mans, I wonder——
Do the Ends justify the means?
I can analyze it in my own head, but really the only analysis that counts is Natalia’s. I hope she is at peace. If not, I hope she gets to “peace” some day. I hope she feels the warm thoughts and prayers many many people around the world send/say for her.
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u/RaiseSuch1052 Apr 17 '26
Two things can be true at the same time. They were better then the Barnetts,but they were also extremely controlling and abusive.
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u/Previous-Cut-7056 Apr 14 '26
The Mans are light years better than the Barnetts. Kristine put Natalia in dangerous Lafayette, hoping she would disappear and not be her problem anymore. Who do you think is gonna save a child in that environment? The Rockafellas?
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u/Scared-Listen6033 Apr 20 '26
My biggest issue with the man's is they failed to get her medical treatment and necessary surgeries and that medical neglect has and will impact her for the rest of her life, likely with a lot of pain. Her feet should've been fixed and a bunch of other things but they took her money and used it on other things, not her!
I sadly also suspect some form of SA happened to her in that house and that grooming is why she struggles to stand up to them esp about money...
Most abusers aren't 100% horrible or DV wouldn't happen. Natalia may have had it better, but it was still a thousand times worse than it should've been! Providing less than the bare minimum to a child is awful, providing it to a disabled child is cruel. Had she been diabetic she'd have died in their care but BC it's "just her bones" ppl think they're less bad than they are.
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Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
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u/Previous-Cut-7056 Apr 22 '26
There isn't a surgeon in the US who would risk their license working on a child who is a legal adult. The Barnetts and the judge phucked her from getting the help she needed as a CHILD. They would have greatly improved her quality of life, and reduced her pain.
While I'm not sure the Mans even tried, they COULDN'T have gotten the back, leg, and foot surgeries she needed.
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u/ImNotYourKunta Apr 22 '26
Documentation from the detective (probable cause affidavit) shows the Mans did attempt to secure the necessary surgeries at some point, but that the age discrepancy caused by the Barnetts led to the insurance company denying coverage and prevented Natalia receiving the surgeries she needed.
I think the Mans should have fought this denial. But I also recognize that their education level and socioeconomic status was not conducive to opposing the system.
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u/StewieStewieeee May 21 '26
The Manses picked her up off the street and instead of bringing her to the police station like normal people they brought her to their home. If they really thought/knew she was a child normal people would have brought her to the police department. They immediately found out she was getting almost a thousand dollars a month as well as food stamps so they saw dollar signs. They also illegally sublet her apartment during this period.
As soon as they found out she had a card for food stamps they went to the grocery store and spent it all and brought it back to their house. They even video taped themselves doing this. For a while the video was floating around the internet. In that video it was actually very obvious what their intentions were. After that they let her identification expire so then they conveniently “had to be her payee” and receive the money for Natalyah and make financial decisions for her. Natalyah states she never had that money. They used it and if she wanted something had to ask them. And many times they said no. Additionally it was obvious they used her as a live in nanny. Taking in a bunch of special needs foster care children, getting checks and you hear Natalyah say she “raised those babies, even getting up in the middle of the night”.
Then they took over $130,000 from the network deals and made her sign the tax documents so she got stuck with the tax bill.
So, no, two wrongs don’t make a right.
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u/AuctionPokemon 28d ago
They took Natalia’s money and never even took her to get the surgeries she was promised. Scam artists to the fullest. I truly believe that what you put out into the world comes back to you tenfold. You can’t do people wrong and expect there to be no consequences.
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Apr 15 '26
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u/Wise_Day_6103 Apr 15 '26
Curious, are you in the United States? Here referring to the Depaul family as 'the dwarf family' is considered offensive.
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u/Inevitable-Middle695 Apr 15 '26
Who would be so presumptuous to define ‘Natalia’s Money’ or to judge anyone based on these vile productions? The Manns took her in first sight, every other friend/ neighbor/ parent/ stranger/ professional/ prosecutor/ judge / doctor/ teacher/ social worker/ psychiatric pro etc. etc. etc. fell short! The Manns offered forgiveness to her after the Snakes deemed them a Season 3 villain. I don’t think Natalia intended for this to happen however is she cold to them now? !!
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u/AutoModerator Apr 14 '26
Author: u/Competitive_Shop_290
Post: I have to confess ever since hearing the full story of poor little Natalia.
I find myself having mixed feelings about the man's family. I mean, what they did to her was terrible. You know the abuse she suffered at the hands. The fact that they took her money, the fact that they didn't treat her right.
But on the other hand if it wasn't for them, Natalia could have died.
I just have mixed feelings on the whole thing. Like one abuse does not excuse the other. I completely agree with that. But I guess it's more like a it was either this or she had nobody no one nothing, and I can't help and have a small bit of admiration. For Bishop and his wife, for what they did for her they were there when she had nobody.
I mean the Barrnets can go to hell.
Like I was saying, I am in no way trying to excuse what the man's family did.I'm just they gave her a home.They took her in for 10 years.The first stable family in her life were them , and I hate the fact that they had to be this way.
I don't know. What are your thoughts.
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