A Michigan mother reveals the shocking reason behind anonymously bullying her 13-year-old daughter for over a year, as discussed in Netflix’s Unknown Number: The High School Catfish documentary.
A Michigan mother, Kendra Licari, has publicly revealed the shocking reason behind her actions of stalking and harassing her 13-year-old daughter Lauryn for over a year. The case, which made headlines for its disturbing nature, took a new turn when Licari shared her side of the story in Netflix’s documentary series Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.
In 2021, Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend, Owen McKenny, began receiving a series of anonymous threatening messages, some of which claimed to be from someone their age. Over the next year, the couple received up to 12 messages per day, leaving them terrified and confused about the identity of their harasser.
Lauryn’s mother, Kendra, along with Owen’s mother, worked alongside school officials and local law enforcement in Beal City, Michigan, in an effort to track down the anonymous tormentor. The FBI was eventually brought in and discovered that Kendra had been using a VPN to hide her location, but they traced the messages to her IP addresses.
Kendra Licari initially denied involvement, even suggesting that one of the teenagers had sent the messages. However, after further investigation, she confessed to sending the anonymous texts herself.
In 2023, Kendra pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking a minor and was sentenced to up to five years in prison. She was released in August 2024, with the condition that she could not have contact with Lauryn due to her plea deal.
The Shocking Revelation in Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
In the Netflix documentary, Kendra Licari finally revealed the reason behind her actions, explaining that she never sent the initial threatening messages but had begun sending her own once the messages stopped temporarily. She said she wanted to uncover the identity of the person behind the harassment, but it spiraled out of control.
“I really wanted to get to the bottom of who it was. And that’s when I started sending the text messages to Lauryn and Owen,” Kendra admitted. She explained that her intention was for the teens to discuss the messages with their friends and potentially uncover the identity of the anonymous sender. However, once she started, she claimed she didn’t know how to stop.
Kendra further explained, “I started in the thoughts of needing some answers, and then I just kept going, it was a spiral, kind of a snowball effect. I don’t think I knew how to stop.”
In the documentary, Kendra expressed deep remorse for her actions, saying she was in a “terrible mental place” at the time. She described herself as “somebody different” during that period and acknowledged that her behavior had caused irreversible damage to her relationship with her daughter.
Lauryn’s Heartfelt Response
Lauryn Licari, now 16, shared her pain and disappointment in her mother’s actions, explaining that her trust had been shattered. Despite the betrayal, Lauryn revealed she still loved her mother and missed her deeply.
“Being without that relationship I think is really hurting me, and I think rebuilding our relationship will help both of us a lot. I love her more than anything,” Lauryn said.
The emotional turmoil caused by the situation highlights the complexities of family dynamics and the lasting impact of online harassment, even when it originates from within the family itself.
The Broader Implications of Cyberbullying and Parental Trust
Kendra Licari’s case serves as a reminder of the deep psychological effects that bullying and harassment can have, especially when it comes from someone who is supposed to protect and care for you. It also raises important questions about the boundaries between parenting and invasion of privacy, and how technology can be used for harm even within families.
As the story continues to unfold, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish offers an eye-opening look at the consequences of cyberbullying, not just from strangers, but from the people closest to us.
