couple legally changed adopted girl's age from 8 to 22, rented her an apartment and moved away

[Demovictory9]

https://www.wlfi.com/content/news/Prosecutors-Couple-abandons-child-in-Lafayette-changes-her-age-flees-to-Canada-560145341.html

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — A couple has been charged in a years-long investigation, accused of abandoning a girl in a Lafayette apartment and then leaving for Canada. Prosecutors say Michael and Kristine Barnett also legally changed the Ukranian girl's presumed age from 8-years-old to 22-years-old.

"This is going to end up on a TV show," a law enforcement officer told News 18 Thursday.


The investigation began five years ago. In Sept. 2014, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a school principal about a student. Officers spoke to the girl who said she had a form of dwarfism called spondyloepiphyseal.

The girl told police she was adopted by the Barnetts in 2010. Court documents, filed Wednesday, said the family lived in Hamilton County for two years. Then, the girl told police the Barnetts rented an apartment on North 11th Street in Lafayette, left her alone and then moved with the rest of the family to Canada.

Before they left, prosecutors say the Barnetts had the girl's age legally changed to 22. The process by which her age was changed remains unclear. According to court documents, Kristine Barnett, also known as Kristine Pearson, told the girl to tell others she just "looks young." A law enforcement source told News 18 that "neighbors took her under their wing" and are cooperating in the investigation.

The couple admitted when interviewed Thursday Sept. 5, 2019 that they did not financially support the girl, other than paying rent, after leaving her in the apartment. They also admitted to changing the girl's age in June of 2012.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/09/13/indiana-couple-wanted-abandoning-child-moving-canada/

eptember 12, 2019 at 6:06 PM HST - Updated September 12 at 6:06 PM
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI/CNN) - Police are searching for an Indiana couple wanted on neglect charges amid accusations they abandoned their 8-year-old adopted daughter.

After a five-year investigation, authorities on Wednesday filed charges against Michael and Kristine Barnett. They reportedly adopted a girl from Ukraine in 2010.

Officials say the couple set the girl up in an apartment in Lafayette and then moved to Canada.

They also say the couple changed the girl's legal age from 8 to 22 years old and told people she had a form of dwarfism.

Police are asking for the public's help.

A police source says the girl’s neighbors stepped in to help care for her. They are also cooperating with the investigation.

[mahina]

1. Jesus.

[mopinko]

2. how the heck do you "legally" change someone's age?

by 14 years? find that judge, and kick him off the bench.

[royable]

3. I kept expecting to see some mention of Florida Man. n/t

[JI7]

4. similar seems to have happened a few times with kids from eastern european countries

things like sending the kid back on a flight alone to the country also.