Did Orphan inspire The Curious Case of Natalia Grace?

“Wait. Was the horror movie Orphan based on a true story? Or did it inspire the events that led to The Curious Case of Natalia Grace?” That’s the first thing I wondered when I heard about the new docuseries premiering on Investigation Discovery (ID) starting May 29.

Orphan was about a couple who adopted a daughter who turned out not to be a girl but a full-fledged woman with psychopathic tendencies. The 2009 movie was inspired by a true story. However, it was released before the events examined in The Curious Case of Natalia Grace. But the movie may have played some part in the events that transpired.

Let’s take a look at both cases. But fair warning, this post is not responsible for any chills that may follow…

Orphan and the Case of Barbora Skrlova

According to Evening Standard, Orphan was “loosely” based on the case of Barbora Skrlová, who posed as a 13-year-old boy named Adam who went missing in Norway. However, when “he” was found, it turned out she was a 33-year-old woman from the Czech Republic.

Like Esther in the movie Orphan, Skrlová suffered from a glandular disease that made her look much younger than she was. However, before becoming Adam, she’d been taken in by two sisters, Klara and Katerina Mauerova. Skrlová posed as a 13-year-old Norwegian girl named Annika who was on the run from a gang of sex traffickers.

Klara was a mom to two sons…who she abused. Yet, she wanted to adopt Anna, thinking she could help her. It sounds a bit convoluted and also like authorities knew about the abuse. That’s why Klara asked Katerina to take her sons. It would give Klara a better chance of formally adopting Annika.

However, they all ended up living together, but the boys were locked in the cellar and abused. Some say Annika not only participated in the abuse but also orchestrated it.

Luckily someone found out about the boys but in one of the craziest ways possible. The Mauerovas had a CCTV baby monitor for the boys, but a neighbor with a newborn ended up picking up their signal on his. Medium described what happened next best:

…he saw a young boy who was completely naked, arms and legs tied up behind his back. He was very dirty, didn’t look healthy, and was eating off of the floor. There were even moments where a woman’s hand would show up, feeding the boy. Edward was super freaked out and called the police immediately.

WTH?! Can you imagine?

That’s when Annika ran away to Norway and pretended to be 13-year-old Adam escaping an abusive father. He was placed in an emergency youth center. After living there a few months, he ran away, sparking the search that then revealed Skrlová as an imposter and con artist.

About The Curious Case of Natalia Grace

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace promises to offer extraordinary access and exclusive insight into a mystery ripped straight from the headlines: Who is Natalia Barnett?

Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted Natalia in 2010. Initially, everyone assumed Natalia was a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a rare bone growth disorder that can result in skeletal abnormalities as well as issues with hearing and vision.

However, the happy family dynamic soured when the Barnetts brought allegations against Natalia. They accused her of masquerading as a child with the intent to harm their family.

Just three years later, in 2013, Natalia was discovered living on her own. If she’d really been six at the time of her adoption, then this would’ve meant she was now only nine years old…and living on her own. Obviously, such a discovery ignited an investigation. Michael and Kristine were arrested, and a firestorm of questions ensued.

Per ID, the documentary will feature “exclusive bombshell interviews with members of Natalia’s adoptive family, including father Michael Barnett and brother Jacob Barnett, as well as relatives, friends, legal experts, and neighbors of Natalia and the Barnett family.” It also “offers a never-before-seen glimpse into the Barnett family, Natalia’s identity, Michael Barnett’s October 2022 trial, as well as key insights into new theories and evidence.”

Will one of the revelations be whether the movie Orphan played any part in this case, as some, like MovieWeb, have suggested it did?

We’ll find out when The Curious Case of Natalia Grace premieres on ID on Monday, May 29. It will be told in multiple parts during three consecutive nights from 9-11 pm ET/PT.

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace Trailer

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Did you know Orphan was based on a true story? Or that the movie may have inspired a real-life Orphan-like case?