On August 29, 2025, Netflix released Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, a 1-hour-34-minute documentary that shed light on the shocking Kendra Licari case. Directed by Skye Borgman, the film explores every angle of the infamous 2022 Michigan cyberbullying scandal, including exclusive interviews with Kendra Licari and her daughter, Lauryn.
What Happened in the Kendra Licari Case?
The case revolves around Kendra Licari, a 42-year-old woman from Michigan, who secretly harassed her teenage daughter, Lauryn, and Lauryn’s boyfriend, Owen McKenney. Beginning in early 2021, Kendra sent harassing messages for over a year, using sophisticated software to disguise her identity. She employed multiple phone numbers and area codes, creating fake accounts to convince Lauryn that Owen was cheating and engaging in sexual activity with the mysterious texter.
Kendra’s Motive
According to Isabella County Prosecutor David Barberi, Kendra’s actions appeared motivated by a desire to make her daughter dependent on her emotionally. By being the source of the harassment, she ensured Lauryn would turn to her for support. In an interview recorded for the documentary, Kendra admitted that when she was sending the texts, she “became a different person” and “didn’t know how to stop.”
Where Is Kendra Licari Now?
Kendra Licari is currently on parole in Pontiac, Michigan. She was released from prison on August 8, 2024, and will remain on parole until February 2026. Following her December 2022 arrest, an FBI investigation traced the harassing messages back to her. She confessed to sending thousands of hateful messages, pleading guilty to stalking minors and cyberbullying. In April 2023, she was sentenced to 19 months to 5 years in prison.
Contact With Her Daughter
Kendra is legally barred from contacting Lauryn. As part of her parole conditions, she must maintain distance from her daughter, who now lives with her father. Other conditions require her to reside in the Pontiac area, stay within Michigan, and make sincere efforts to find and maintain employment.
Why Did Kendra Participate in the Documentary?
Kendra’s participation in Unknown Number: The High School Catfish was finalized toward the end of filming, after much of the documentary had already been shot. Director Skye Borgman suggested that Kendra wanted to tell her side of the story and remain connected to her daughter in some way, even if only through the documentary. Skye noted:
“That was appealing to her, [to] sit down and tell her story from her perspective and that Lauryn [could] see her do that. She wanted to do it, I think, for her daughter.”
The Netflix documentary provides a deep dive into one of the most unsettling cases of modern cyberbullying, highlighting not only the crime but the complicated family dynamics at its center.
