Netflix Docuseries “Unknown Number” Reveals Mother as Cyberstalker

Lead Netflix’s new true-crime documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish exposed on Friday that the anonymous harassing texts tormenting a Michigan teen and her boyfriend were sent by the girl’s own mother.

Nut Graf The film’s stunning twist has ignited a nationwide conversation about cyberstalking, digital deception and family betrayal, as viewers grapple with how parental love can morph into online torment.

The Harassment Campaign

  • From October 2020 through late 2021, Lauryn Licari, 18, and her then-boyfriend Owen McKenney received up to 50 abusive texts per day from an untraceable number.
  • Messages ranged from benign relationship rumors to graphic threats, including “kill yourself” and other violent language.
  • The barrage persisted even after the couple’s breakup, prompting school officials and police involvement.

Investigation Unmasks the Perpetrator

  • Local law enforcement enlisted the FBI, which traced messages to a spoofed Spectrum IP address in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
  • Cyber-forensics experts linked the activity to Kendra Licari’s phone after analyzing metadata from the spoofing app.
  • Kendra, 45, confessed that she began sending messages in September 2021 to uncover the original harasser and then became “engrossed” in the campaign.

Legal Aftermath and Personal Fallout

  • Charged in December 2022 with two counts of stalking a minor, Kendra pled guilty and was sentenced in April 2023 to 19 months for cyberstalking.
  • She was paroled on August 8, 2024, and remains under supervised release until February 2026.
  • Lauryn’s father secured sole custody, and Kendra is barred from contacting her daughter.

Public Reaction and Ongoing Impact

  • Since its August 29 debut, Unknown Number has topped Netflix’s true-crime charts and sparked social-media debates about privacy, parental boundaries and mental-health support.
  • Viewers praised the documentary’s investigative rigor and director Skye Borgman’s ability to secure candid interviews with Kendra Licari.
  • Lauryn, now a senior planning to study criminology, hopes the film will raise awareness of cyberbullying and encourage others to seek help.

Subheading: Key Questions Raised

  • What drives a parent to cyberbully her own child?
  • How can schools and law enforcement better detect spoofed harassment?
  • What support systems exist for victims of familial cyberstalking?