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

After watching Netflix's latest documentary about a mother who shockingly cyber-bullied her own daughter, one question lingers in everyone's mind: why did she do it?

For those unfamiliar, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish debuted on 29 August, presenting the real-life narrative of a teenage girl who was anonymously harassed online.

The story recounts the ordeal of 13-year-old Lauryn Licari, who was harassed for years via texts from an unknown source, targeting her relationships, appearance, and more.

The harassment began during a Halloween party in October 2020 when Lauryn received a message claiming her boyfriend Owen was going to end their relationship.

Although the texts paused for a while, they resumed in September 2021, bombarding the teens with 'hundreds of thousands' of abusive messages from the mysterious perpetrator.

The case has been covered in a new Netflix doc (Netflix)

The messages contained details that only someone close to Lauryn would know, heightening the concern.

As more individuals from Beal City, Michigan, got involved, worried parents and school officials sought assistance from law enforcement.

The investigation led the FBI to a shocking revelation: Lauryn's mother, Kendra Licari, was the one sending the distressing texts to her daughter and Owen.

Kendra was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 19 months to five years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of assaulting a minor.

Kendra was released from jail in August 2024 and appeared in the documentary to share her perspective.

She claims she did not send the initial text that started the turmoil, but admitted to continuing it.

The mother stated her original intent was to 'discover the identity' by messaging Lauryn and Owen, hoping they might divulge some information.

Lauryn and her then-boyfriend Owen were targeted with horrific anonymous messages (Netflix)

She explained it was 'hoping they might reply with, "Is this someone?" or "Is this so-and-so?" to give me some clue'.

Reflecting on her actions, Kendra said: "I began with the intention of finding answers, but it spiraled out of control, like a snowball effect, and I couldn't stop."

"I was a different person during those times. I was in a terrible mental state. It felt like wearing a mask, I didn't recognize myself."

She continued: "I allowed it to consume me. I think it became an escape. It removed me from my daily life, even though it was real life."

"In those moments, I wasn't myself, and it distanced me from my everyday life. It just kept escalating."

The documentary's director, Skye Borgman, spoke to Netflix's Tudum about what she perceives as the 'complex' motivations behind the disturbing actions.

She mentioned: "In the documentary, Kendra discusses an assault she experienced around Lauryn’s age. She describes how frightening it was to see her only child, her little girl, growing up, and she believes that's what led her to send these messages and attempt to keep Lauryn close."

Others involved in the case, including school officials and Isabella County prosecutor David Barberi, suggest Kendra's actions might resemble a form of cyber Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy, also known as Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA), is a mental disorder and a form of child abuse where a caretaker, often a mother, fabricates or induces illness in the child.

In this instance, however, it was cyberbullying rather than illness-related, and Kendra has not been formally diagnosed with the disorder.

Borgman commented: "Attributing it to any medical condition is somewhat problematic. ... But there are aspects of Munchausen by proxy - harming someone to keep them close - that certainly seem present."

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is available to stream on Netflix now.