When Netflix’s Unknown Number: The High School Catfish dropped, the spotlight naturally fell on Lauryn Licari, a teenager who experienced the trauma of receiving vile and threatening messages from an anonymous number for over a year. And her mother, Kendra, who shockingly turned out to be the sender.
But if you watch the whole mother-daughter dynamic closely, you cannot ignore the role of Shawn Licari. He was Kendra’s husband, Lauryn’s father, who was caught in the storm. While his life turned upside down with the betrayal and financial strain, his perspective added another layer to the already unbelievable case.
Did Shawn Licari know that his wife, Kendra, sent threatening messages anonymously to their daughter?
According to the real-life documentary, Unknown Number, based on the chilling case of cyberbullying in Beal City, Michigan, Shawn was present when Lauryn began receiving texts in late 2020. He saw how deeply the harassment affected his daughter and believed his wife, Kendra, was actively helping solve the problem. What he didn’t see coming was that the real sender lived under the same roof with them. Looking back in the documentary, Shawn admitted he never could have imagined that Kendra, whom he implicitly trusted, would send such cruel messages to their daughter.
Even before the truth came out, cracks had begun to show in Shawn’s personal life. He was dealing with financial issues that had placed a heavy strain on the marriage. Also, he found that bills for storage units had gone unpaid, putting his belongings at risk. At first, he thought it was an oversight. But after the discovery, the couple eventually separated and lived in different homes while still sharing custody of Lauryn. He later learned that Kendra had lied about her employment history for years, as she didn’t have any job.
Where is Shawn Licari now?
Everything changed in Shawn Licari’s life in December 2022 when he got a call from Lauryn asking him to come over. He arrived at Kendra’s house, where police told him that Kendra had admitted to sending harassing messages. It left him in shock, and when she demanded answers from her and asked her to end her contact with their daughter. Today, he has full custody of Lauryn and lives in Michigan. He has reportedly ended ties with Kendra completely and focuses on being a present and supportive father. He even cheered for Lauryn as she graduated from high school in 2025.
What happened to Kendra and Lauryn’s lives post-scandal?
Apart from Shawn, Kendra pleaded guilty to stalking a minor and served 19 months in prison before her release in 2024. On the other hand, Lauryn, who earlier had love for her mom, has been torn between love and betrayal. She has some ties with her mom, but continues to deal with their bond with caution and distance. Lauryn continues to be with Shawn, and the father-daughter are gradually rebuilding their lives after the chilling tragedy.
What do you think about Shawn Licari’s stance over the whole cyberbullying scandal?
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