Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in Jail? Unpacking the Natalia Grace Allegations

Posted: May 1, 2025 | By US Prison Guide Team

Natalia Grace’s story, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism caught in a web of abandonment and accusations, has captivated true crime fans through Investigation Discovery’s The Curious Case of Natalia Grace and Hulu’s Good American Family. After her first adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, left her in 2013, Antwon and Cynthia Mans stepped in, offering a new home. But allegations of abuse and financial fraud against them have sparked a burning question: Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail? As of May 2025, Antwon and Cynthia Mans are not in jail. Antwon faced a minor theft arrest in 2013, resolved without jail time, and no charges have been filed against either for the allegations tied to Natalia. Let’s dive into the claims, their legal history, and what’s happening now.

Natalia Grace’s Odyssey: From Barnetts to Manses

Natalia Grace, born September 4, 2003, in Ukraine, arrived in the U.S. in 2008 with a rare form of dwarfism, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. Adopted by Michael and Kristine Barnett in 2010, she was believed to be six. The Barnetts soon alleged she was an adult con artist, citing behaviors like menstruation and threats, per Forbes. In 2012, they changed her legal birth year to 1989, making her 22, and in 2013, left her in a Lafayette, Indiana, apartment, moving to Canada, per Business Insider. A 2023 DNA test confirmed Natalia was a child then, born in 2003, per Yahoo.

Alone in Lafayette, Natalia met Cynthia Mans through a neighbor in 2013. Cynthia, a mother of 10, and Antwon, a pastor, welcomed her into their home, per Newsweek. By 2016, they sought guardianship, believing her to be 13 or 14, renaming her Natalyah Grace Rene Mans, per Wikipedia. They adopted her in June 2023, per People. Initially, they were her champions, defending her on Dr. Phil in 2019 against the Barnetts’ claims, per In Touch Weekly. But by 2024, allegations turned the spotlight on them, prompting fans to ask, “Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail?”

A New Family, A New Hope

On Dr. Phil, Cynthia said, “Natalia loves her siblings and nephew,” dismissing tales of violence, per StyleCaster. Antwon supported Natalia during a 2023 DNA test proving her age, per Business Insider, and sat with her confronting Michael Barnett in Natalia Speaks, per In Touch Weekly. Their June 2023 adoption was a milestone, with Natalia beaming, “This is the happiest moment of my life,” per In Touch Weekly. Yet, within months, cracks appeared, leading to serious accusations.

The Allegations: A Dark Turn

The January 2024 premiere of The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter dropped a bombshell. Natalia, then 20, fled the Manses’ Nashville home in December 2023 to live with the DePaul family in New York, aided by her UK boyfriend, Neil, per People. She claimed the Manses isolated her, seizing her phone and internet access after discovering her romance with Neil, per In Touch Weekly. Neil told Nicole and Vince DePaul, who nearly adopted Natalia in 2009, that the Manses neglected her medical needs for her disability, per Yahoo. So, is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail for these claims? Let’s explore the accusations.

Abuse Allegations

Multiple sources accused the Manses of physical abuse. Robert Madewell, whose son was under Cynthia’s care from 2019 to 2022, alleged she struck his toddler and Natalia with a belt, per In Touch Weekly. His son, identity protected, said, “Miss Cynthia would whoop me… sometimes slap Natalia in the face,” per People. Matthew Newlin, a former Mans resident, claimed Antwon “brutally battered” Natalia with a belt in their church basement, leaving her in tears, per People. Matthew’s ex-wife, Anna Newlin, alleged Cynthia locked Natalia in a bathroom and assaulted her, contradicting her on-camera defense that the Manses weren’t abusive, per Yahoo. Natalia, when pressed, said, “I don’t want to talk about that,” but admitted to a “little pop on the butt,” per Forbes. These claims fuel the question: Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail?

Financial Fraud Concerns

Financial exploitation claims also surfaced. Nicole DePaul found Cynthia was the payee for Natalia’s $800 monthly Social Security benefits, even after Natalia left, per In Touch Weekly. Natalia handed over earnings from Dr. Phil, GoFundMe, and interviews, leaving her without a bank account, per Yahoo. Legal expert Beth Karas called this “potentially illegal,” per In Touch Weekly. Madewell claimed the Manses adopted disabled children for benefits, saying, “It’s all about the money,” per Today. A 2023 GoFundMe by Cynthia for a wheelchair-accessible van raised suspicions, with Reddit users on r/nataliagrace questioning its use, per Reddit. Yet, is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail for these financial issues? Not yet.

Legal Status: Are Antwon and Cynthia Mans in Jail?

Despite the gravity of these allegations, Antwon and Cynthia Mans are not in jail for anything related to Natalia Grace. Sarah R. Sommer, Crawfordsville, Indiana’s director of communications, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter in January 2025, “There is currently no ongoing investigation involving Antwon and Cynthia Mans or their residence,” per Yahoo. No charges have been filed for abuse or fraud, and Natalia has not pursued legal action, per Newsweek. The Manses denied the claims, with Cynthia calling them “sick, twisted lies” in the docuseries, per Today.

Antwon’s sole legal blemish is a 2013 arrest for conversion, a minor theft charge for taking mousetraps from a Payless store in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, per In Touch Weekly. He pleaded no contest, completed a diversion program with a $325 fine, and served no jail time, per Dexerto. Cynthia has no recorded arrests. So, is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail? No, they remain free, with no active cases tied to Natalia as of May 2025.

The Manses’ Side of the Story

The Manses have pushed back against the allegations. In April 2024, Cynthia posted on TikTok, sharing messages accusing her of mistreatment and writing, “Amazing how ppl take 30 minutes of tv and cast judgment on my family. We never harmed a hair on Natalyahs head,” per lehighvalleylive.com. Their last Instagram post, from November 2023, showed a joyful family with Natalia, per StyleCaster. They didn’t respond to docuseries producers’ requests for comment on the abuse claims, per Dexerto. Natalia’s hesitance to confirm the allegations, saying, “I don’t want to talk about that,” adds complexity, per Forbes.

Why the Jail Rumors Keep Swirling

The question “Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail?” persists due to the docuseries’ explosive revelations. The Final Chapter, aired January 2024, portrayed the Manses as controlling and abusive, with testimony from Madewell, the Newlins, and Neil, per People. X posts, like @popculturegal’s January 2024 tweet calling them “grifters hiding behind religion,” went viral, per X posts. Reddit’s r/nataliagrace community, with users like u/DerangedBehemoth labeling Antwon “cult-ish,” kept the heat on, per Reddit.

The Manses’ religious image—Antwon as a pastor, Cynthia tied to their church—drew suspicion. Tamara Lee of One Way Pentecostal Apostolic Church described their parenting as “extremely overprotective and strict,” per Dexerto. Madewell called them a “cult,” alleging brainwashing, per Dexerto. Their fallout with Natalia, aired in Natalia Speaks, where Antwon said she was “tweakin’” and Cynthia claimed betrayal, shocked viewers, per Yahoo. Without charges, some fans, like Reddit’s u/True_Action_3294, question why they “keep collecting children,” per Reddit.

Natalia’s Escape to the DePauls

Natalia’s December 2023 exit from the Manses was cinematic. Neil, alarmed by her isolation, contacted Nicole and Vince DePaul, who nearly adopted her in 2009. Nicole and her daughter Mackenzie drove to Nashville, picking Natalia up from the Manses’ church at midnight, per People. Natalia told People in January 2024, “Leaving was one of the hardest decisions of my life,” regretting not telling her adoptive parents, per lehighvalleylive.com. She now lives with the DePauls in New York, pursuing financial independence with legal help, per Wikipedia. Nicole discovered Natalia’s Cash App linked to Cynthia’s account, raising concerns, per People. Yet, Natalia’s defense of the Manses, wanting Cynthia as her benefits payee, puzzled Nicole, per Business Insider.

Scrutinizing the Manses’ Past

Antwon’s 2013 mousetrap theft, though trivial, coincided with meeting Natalia, raising eyebrows, per In Touch Weekly. Madewell’s claim that Cynthia sought guardianship of his son for benefits, asking three times, fueled distrust, per Dexerto. Their church was called controlling, with Lee noting “control issues,” per Dexerto. Reddit users like u/True_Action_3294 on r/nataliagrace criticized Cynthia’s “bullying” in a threatening call to Nicole, per Reddit. These details keep fans asking, “Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail?” despite no charges.

The Manses’ fostering of 10 children, per Newsweek, drew questions. Reddit’s u/True_Action_3294 wondered how they “collect children,” suggesting Indiana’s foster system is lax, per Reddit. The state’s allowance of corporal punishment may explain the lack of charges, per Reddit.

Hulu’s Portrayal and Public Reaction

Hulu’s Good American Family, premiered March 2025, stars Christina Hendricks and Jerod Haynes as Cynthia and Antwon, per lehighvalleylive.com. It focuses on the Barnetts but includes a disclaimer: “Since this series was completed, abuse allegations against Antwon and Cynthia Mans have come to light. They maintain their innocence,” per Today. Creator Katie Robbins called the claims “devastating,” per Today. The series keeps the question alive: Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail?

The Broader Context: True Crime and Systemic Flaws

Natalia’s saga highlights foster care gaps. Indiana’s corporal punishment laws, per Reddit’s u/Advanced-General9360, may shield the Manses, per Reddit. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System notes 600,000 annual maltreatment cases, yet many go unprosecuted due to evidence hurdles, per NCANDS. Financial exploitation, like controlling Natalia’s benefits, is tough to prove without clear intent, per In Touch Weekly.

Fan sentiment is split. X users like @culturevibe in 2024 branded the Manses “fraudsters,” while @tiktoktea defended Natalia’s bond with them, citing her silence, per X posts. Reddit’s u/DerangedBehemoth called them “grifters,” but u/True_Action_3294 blamed systemic failures, per Reddit. Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail? No, but their story divides viewers, with no legal resolution in sight.

Where Are They Now?

Antwon and Cynthia live in Nashville, per Today, but have been quiet online since November 2023, per lehighvalleylive.com. Cynthia’s April 2024 TikTok defended their care, per lehighvalleylive.com. Natalia, 21, is with the DePauls, studying for her diploma, per Forbes. She told People in January 2024, “I want a normal life,” but feels torn about hurting the Manses, per lehighvalleylive.com. Without charges, the Manses face no jail time, but their reputation is bruised.

Is Antwon and Cynthia Mans in jail? They’re not, and unless new evidence or Natalia’s testimony emerges, they likely won’t be. The docuseries and Hulu’s drama keep the case alive, but justice remains elusive, leaving Natalia’s story—and her pain—unresolved.