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5 Shocking Revelations From 'Unknown Number: The High School Catfish'—Where Is Kendra Licari Now?

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The true-crime documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, which premiered on Netflix, continues to generate widespread shock and discussion as of December 23, 2025. The film chronicles one of the most bizarre and disturbing cases of cyberbullying in recent memory, where a high school couple was relentlessly tormented by an anonymous harasser for nearly two years.

The story, set in the small community of Beal City, Michigan, quickly spirals from a typical high school drama into a complex criminal investigation involving the Michigan State Police and the FBI. The shocking twist—that the perpetrator was the mother of one of the victims—has cemented the documentary as a must-watch, prompting viewers to search for the latest updates on the key figures, particularly the current status of the perpetrator.

The Complete Profile and Current Status of Kendra Licari

The core of the Unknown Number documentary revolves around the actions and ultimate conviction of Kendra Licari, a former Beal City High School basketball coach and mother to one of the victims, Lauryn Licari. Her case stands as a chilling example of parental cybercrime.

  • Full Name: Kendra Gail Licari
  • Known Role: Former Beal City High School girls' basketball coach.
  • Victims: Her daughter, Lauryn Licari, and Lauryn’s boyfriend, Owen McKenney.
  • Crime Timeline: The cyberstalking and harassment lasted from late 2020 until early 2022.
  • Fake Personas: Licari used various anonymous phone numbers and IP addresses, creating multiple fake personas, including "Ashley" and "Tyler," to send hundreds of harassing and abusive text messages to the teenagers.
  • Arrest and Conviction: She was arrested in 2022 after a joint investigation by the Michigan State Police and the FBI traced the messages back to her devices.
  • Legal Charges: Licari pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking a minor and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.
  • Sentence: In 2023, she was sentenced to 19 months to 5 years in prison.
  • Current Status: As of the latest public records, Kendra Licari (MDOC Number: 752232) is currently listed as a Parolee under the supervision of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC).

Her alleged motivation, as stated in the documentary, was a bizarre attempt to "get to the bottom" of the harassment by inserting herself into the situation with new text messages, though law enforcement ultimately concluded she was the sole perpetrator from the beginning.

The Twisted Timeline: How a Mother Catfished Her Own Daughter

The investigation detailed in the documentary showcases the sheer complexity and technological effort Kendra Licari employed to maintain her deception. The case began in October 2020 when Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenney started receiving strange and abusive text messages from an unknown number.

The messages, which were often cruel and highly personal, escalated over time, leading the teenagers to experience severe emotional distress, anxiety, and fear. The content was designed to drive a wedge between the couple and isolate Lauryn from her friends and family.

Initially, the Licari family reported the harassment to the Beal City Police, and Kendra Licari herself was vocal about her desire to find the perpetrator. She even allegedly began a separate investigation, claiming to have found new evidence, which was later revealed to be an attempt to further confuse investigators and cover her tracks.

The investigation was eventually handed over to the Michigan State Police and the FBI, which utilized advanced forensic tools to trace the IP addresses and phone numbers. The evidence pointed overwhelmingly to devices owned by Kendra Licari and her then-boyfriend. The moment the identity was revealed shocked everyone involved, particularly Lauryn and Owen. The documents from the investigation showed that Licari had been utilizing sophisticated methods to mask her identity, including the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and burner apps.

The Lingering Impact: Where Are Lauryn and Owen Today?

One of the most compelling aspects of the documentary is the perspective of the victims, Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenney, who had to grapple not only with the trauma of cyberbullying but also with the betrayal by a trusted family member. Their resilience and recovery journey offer a crucial counterpoint to Kendra’s actions.

Lauryn Licari's Life After the Catfish Scandal

Lauryn Licari has worked hard to move past the traumatic events of her high school years. She successfully graduated from Beal City High School in 2024.

A significant part of her recovery and focus has been her passion for sports. Lauryn was a dedicated varsity softball player throughout high school and has since continued her athletic career. She is currently playing collegiate softball, demonstrating a powerful return to normalcy and dedication to her personal goals.

Owen McKenney's Path Forward

Owen McKenney, who endured the same months of relentless harassment alongside Lauryn, also features prominently in the documentary, sharing his experience of the emotional toll the catfishing took on him and his family. The cyberbullying was specifically designed to damage his relationship and reputation.

While Owen’s specific current activities are less publicized than Lauryn's collegiate sports, he has moved forward with his life following the intense scrutiny and emotional damage caused by the crime. He and Lauryn remain a central focus of the story, serving as a reminder of the real-world consequences of online harassment and betrayal.

Understanding the Psychology of the 'Catfish Mom'

The case of Kendra Licari is often analyzed through the lens of psychology, particularly the cognitive distortions and motivations that could lead a parent to stalk their own child. Documentaries like this, directed by true-crime veteran Skye Borgman (known for Abducted in Plain Sight), often explore the 'why' behind the crime.

Experts suggest that actions like Licari’s can stem from a desire for control, a need for attention, or a profound inability to cope with a child's growing independence. By inserting herself into the drama—first as a concerned mother and then as the harasser—she maintained a central, albeit destructive, role in her daughter's life. The sheer absurdity of the situation highlights the hidden dangers lurking in the digital world, where anonymity can enable extreme forms of manipulation and psychological abuse.

The prosecution’s case emphasized that regardless of her stated intentions, Licari's actions constituted severe emotional and psychological abuse against two minors. The relatively short prison sentence (before parole) sparked significant public outrage, with many arguing that it did not adequately reflect the severity and duration of the cybercrime and child abuse committed.

The Documentary's Warning: Cyberbullying and Parental Surveillance

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish serves as an urgent warning about the dark side of digital communication and the devastating effects of cyberbullying. It forces a difficult conversation about parental involvement, digital boundaries, and the law's capacity to handle complex cybercrimes.

The documentary's lasting legacy is its exposure of how easily technology can be weaponized, even by those closest to us. It highlights the critical work of law enforcement agencies like the FBI in tracing digital footprints and the importance of taking anonymous harassment seriously, regardless of how absurd the details may seem at first. The case remains a pivotal study in modern true crime, emphasizing that sometimes, the most shocking revelations come from the most unexpected sources.

unknown number the high school
unknown number the high school

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