Lauryn Licari, the subject of Netflix's new true crime documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, was cyberbullied for over a year by an unknown number. The perpetrator turned out to be her own mother, Kendra. The film explores the shocking case and its aftermath.
In October 2020, Lauryn, then a high school student in Michigan, began receiving aggressive text messages from an anonymous number. Her mother advised her to ignore them. The harassment escalated, prompting involvement from parents, school officials, local police, and eventually the FBI.
After 15 months, police traced the messages to Kendra. She was confronted and confessed. In December 2022, Kendra was charged with stalking a minor and related offences. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison, with a minimum of 15 months. She was released in 2024.
Lauryn, now 18, has undergone significant emotional growth. Initially, she wanted her mother back in her life, but over time she has established healthier boundaries. She has grown closer to her father, Shawn. The documentary shows her forging her own path after the traumatic experience.
