Netflix’s new documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, tells the shocking story of a cyberbullying case that shook a small town in Michigan. It centers on Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend Owen McKenny, who were harassed for months by threatening texts from an anonymous sender. The twist that stunned everyone was that the person behind it all was Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari. For Owen’s family, especially his mother Jill McKenny, the ordeal was life-changing.
Jill McKenny had been living a normal life in Beal City with her husband Dave and their two children, Owen and Macy. When Owen started dating Lauryn, Jill quickly became close to Lauryn’s mother, Kendra, trusting her as a friend. So when the threatening messages started in October 2020, Jill turned to Kendra for support, thinking they were facing this nightmare together. The messages were vile and personal, leaving Owen anxious, and some even included photos taken inside their home, which terrified Jill. She once broke down at the police station, feeling helpless. Even after Owen broke up with Lauryn and started seeing someone else, the messages continued. It wasn’t until December 2022 that the truth came out—Kendra was behind it—and Jill was left shocked and heartbroken over the betrayal.
During Kendra’s hearing, Jill attended with her family and gave a heartfelt speech about the damage caused over the two and a half years of harassment. Meeting Kendra in court brought a small sense of closure, even if a true explanation never came. Since then, Jill has been focused on rebuilding her family’s life. She supports her children in school and sports, and she looks forward to seeing Owen head off to college.
The scandal also deeply affected the Licari family. Lauryn and Owen eventually broke up under the strain of the harassment. Lauryn grew closer to her father, while Owen moved forward with his life. Kendra, who pleaded guilty to stalking a minor, served prison time and was released in 2024. Though she cited personal trauma as her reason for her actions, it hasn’t healed the pain caused to the families involved.