Cyberbullying and cyberstalking are nightmares that, unfortunately, most teens face in this digital era. But only a few, if any, would expect the threat to come from their own parent, a mother who they could rely on anytime for support. That’s exactly what rocked the otherwise quiet town of Beal City, Michigan, when 13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend, Owen, began receiving mysterious and threatening texts from an unknown number in October 2020. 

With no clue about the ‘catfish’ texter, the messages escalated over the next 15 months, growing more alarming with each cruel insult and detail that only someone too close to Lauryn could have known. The investigation eventually revealed the unthinkable: it was Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari, who was behind the harassment.

Netflix’s recent release, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, explores this shocking real-life case. But what could have led a mother to become her own daughter’s worst nightmare?

The trail of menacing texts sent to Lauryn Licari’s phone

Lauryn Licari was in the eighth grade when her childhood friend, Owen McKenny, officially asked her out. Their families were good friends and often hung out together at barbecues and family dinners. The world felt good for the teenage lovers until one day, when it didn’t. 

Shortly before Halloween in 2020, Licari’s daughter, Lauryn, received her first unsettling text from an unknown number. The message read, “Hi Lauryn, Owen is breaking up with you.” More texts soon followed, saying things like, “He no longer likes you and hasn’t liked you for a while,” and “It’s obvious he wants me.” Then, just as abruptly, the messages stopped.

The following year, the texts returned, more relentless than ever. Lauryn and Owen began receiving them throughout the day and deep into the night. The messages grew disturbing when the unknown sender used Licari’s nickname, ‘Lo’, and commented on her outfits and hairstyles, convincing everyone it had to be someone from her close circle, likely within the school.

For 13-year-old Lauryn, these threatening texts were terrifying, and she and Owen couldn’t realise who this unknown person could be. Everyone in the troubled teen’s close circles, including her friends, was suspected as the bully and questioned accordingly. Soon, the once-peaceful town of Beal City turned into a rumour hub where no one could believe the other.

The shocking reveal that changed Lauryn Licari forever

After months of investigation that all led to a dead end, the families of Lauryn and Owen got perhaps the greatest shock of their lives. The FBI finally traced those anonymous messages to Kendra Licari, Lauryn’s mother. It turned out that using various fake accounts and VPNs, Kendra orchestrated over a year of cyberbullying against her own daughter. 

Kendra’s confrontation, captured on police bodycam footage, left the troubled teenager in utter disbelief. The Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish dives deep into Licari’s motives, trying to unearth a mother’s twisted motive, rooted in fear, trauma, and desire, to keep her daughter close. 

Why did Kendra Licari become her daughter’s worst nightmare for 15 months?

The question that haunted both investigators and the public was simple: why would a mother torment her own daughter? While Kendra Licari’s actions remain baffling, investigators and psychologists point to a mix of emotional instability, control issues, and unresolved personal struggles. In the Netflix documentary, Kendra put her motives behind the harassment into her own words. 

Kendra Gail Licari was once a respected middle school basketball coach in Michigan. She was intelligent and capable, and students admired her. Yet, beneath that exterior were years of unresolved childhood trauma, making her grapple with feelings of frustration, inadequacy, and a need for control. 

The 42-year-old’s confession in Unknown Number revealed a trauma from her childhood, including an assault at Lauryn’s age. This may have driven Kendra’s disturbing actions, making her put her daughter through a similar ordeal as a twisted way to connect with her and keep her close. The documentary’s director, Skye Borgman, said:

“She does mention in the documentary an assault that happened [to her] when she was right around Lauryn’s age. She talks about how scary that was for her to see her only child, her little girl, growing up, and that’s what she really relates to, and that’s what she believes led her to sending these text messages and trying to keep Lauryn close.”

Experts believe Kendra Licari’s behaviour may have stemmed from a psychological need for validation or perhaps resentment towards her daughter’s growing independence. Some suggest she may have struggled with deep-seated insecurities that manifested in destructive ways. Others speculate she was seeking sympathy by appearing as both victim and protector.

What happened to Lauryn Licari after the incident?

While the exact reason may never be fully understood, Kendra’s actions shattered the trust of her family, leaving lasting scars on her daughter’s life. Kendra was sentenced to 19 months to five years of jail time and released on parole in August 2024. 

The documentary’s emotional heart is Lauryn. Initially eager to reconcile with her mother, she has learnt to approach the relationship cautiously. Now 18, she has grown stronger and more independent. She and Owen eventually broke up and are no longer in contact. Lauryn has rebuilt her bond with her father, Shawn Licari, while maintaining a cautious bond with her mother.

The case of Kendra Licari is a chilling reminder that sometimes the darkest threats come from the people we trust most, leaving scars that last a lifetime. It also raises haunting questions about the fragile boundaries of love, control, and betrayal.

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