Warning: this article contains spoilers for Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

The gripping catfish case involving Kendra Licari and her teenage daughter, Lauryn, has sparked renewed interest after the recent release of Unknown Number: The High School Catfish on Netflix.

This documentary explores the dynamic between mother and daughter, which was irrevocably altered in 2020 when Lauryn, at 13 years old, and her then-boyfriend, Owen McKenny, started receiving unsettling texts from an anonymous source.

After a temporary halt, the disturbing messages resumed in September 2021, leading to a relentless 15-month period where the teens were bombarded daily with threats and insults.

When the messages began to include details only someone close to Lauryn would know, law enforcement was called in. The investigation eventually revealed the shocking truth: the person behind the messages was Lauryn's own mother, Kendra, driven by obsession.

Why did Kendra Licari do it?

Although the Netflix documentary doesn't fully explain Kendra's motive for harassing her daughter, Isabella County prosecutor David Barberi speculates that her actions might be akin to a form of cyber Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

In this scenario, however, it was cyberbullying rather than fabricating illness, and there's no official diagnosis for Kendra.

"Attributing a medical basis is somewhat problematic. … Yet, elements of Munchausen by proxy—such as causing harm to maintain closeness—seem evident," director Skye Borgman remarked.

Borgman also noted: "Kendra discusses in the documentary an assault she experienced around Lauryn’s age. She describes her fear of seeing her only child, her little girl, grow up, which she believes led her to send these texts to keep Lauryn close."

In the documentary, Kendra confessed: "I initially sought answers, and it spiraled from there; I couldn't stop. It was like a snowball effect.

"In those times, I was someone else, in a terrible mental state. It felt like wearing a mask; I didn't recognize myself."

Lauryn's mother, Kendra Licari, was found to be the perpetrator (Isabella County Sheriff’s Office)

What is Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy?

Educational psychologist, Dr Sasha Hall, informed Tyla that Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA) is the current psychiatric term for what was once known as Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy.

"In the UK, it's often referred to as Fabricated or Induced Illness," she elaborated, adding: "It describes abuse where a parent or caregiver deliberately invents, exaggerates, or induces physical, emotional, or psychological issues in a child."

According to Dr Hall, motivations can range from seeking attention or sympathy to processing unresolved personal trauma.

"FDIA is rare but extremely serious, with courts recognizing it as significant harm when deliberate fabrication is proven," Dr Hall emphasized.

For Lauryn Licari, the online harassment by her mother could be interpreted as a psychological form of this abuse.

The psychologist added: "The impact was particularly severe as Lauryn was left feeling unsafe in all her environments. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs indicates that without safety, higher-order skills like learning and identity development are hindered.

"Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory highlights the need for children to feel secure across all systems—school, home, peers. Lauryn was unaware of her harasser's identity, leaving her with no safe space.

"Learning that her mother was behind it would deeply undermine her sense of self, causing her to question past memories, relationships, and her personal narrative. She now faces the challenge of rebuilding her identity after such a profound betrayal."

Kendra featured in the chilling documentary film (Netflix)

What happened to Kendra?

In December 2022, Kendra was arrested and faced multiple charges, including stalking and using a computer to commit a crime.

She admitted guilt to two counts of stalking a minor and received a prison sentence ranging from 19 months to five years. She was released on 8 August, 2024.

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is currently available for streaming on Netflix.