Imagine being a teenager and receiving cruel, threatening texts every single day. Messages telling you that you’re worthless, that no one loves you, that you should take your own life. Now imagine discovering that the person sending thousands of these messages is your own mother. This is the shocking true story behind Netflix Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. But while the story itself is heartbreaking, many viewers believe Netflix mishandled it, allowing the abuser, Kendra Licari, to manipulate both the filmmakers and the audience.
The Horrifying Story Behind Unknown Number
In 2020, in Beal City, Michigan, 13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend, Owen, were harassed by an “Netflix unknown number” for more than a year. Lauryn received up to 40 or 50 abusive, sexual, and threatening texts per day. Local police and school administrators couldn’t solve the mystery. Eventually, the FBI traced the IP address and uncovered the shocking truth: the harasser was Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari.
Kendra eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking a minor and was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison. She was released in 2024 and remains on supervised parole until 2026. Given the volume and severity of the abuse, many argue that the punishment did not fit the crime.
Law Enforcement Failed Lauryn Licari
One of the most disturbing moments in Unknown Number comes when police confronted Kendra at her home. Instead of separating the mother from her daughter, officers allowed Kendra to hug Lauryn even as they told her that her mother had been the one abusing her for more than a year.
This was a textbook case of trauma bonding, where victims develop a connection with their abuser. Viewers were stunned as Lauryn stood in shock, comforted by the very person who had emotionally tortured her. The documentary glosses over this deeply disturbing moment without offering psychological insight, expert commentary, or meaningful context.
How Netflix Mishandled the Documentary
Unknown Number could have been a powerful exposé about parental abuse, digital safety, and systemic failure. Instead, Netflix treated it like a mystery thriller, prioritizing suspense over justice.
The focus remained on the “who” of the texts, rather than the devastating impact on Lauryn. Worse, the filmmakers gave Kendra too much space to rewrite her story. Director Skye Borgman admitted that Kendra is “an unreliable narrator,” but the documentary doesn’t drive that point home. Instead, it allows Kendra’s manipulative tendencies to play out unchecked.
By choosing to frame Kendra in a sympathetic light and delaying the reveal of her abuse, Netflix risked making viewers feel duped rather than informed. In doing so, the platform inadvertently gave power to an abuser.
Why Viewers Are Furious at Unknown Number
Social media threads, including Reddit discussions, show that audiences were horrifiednot just by Kendra’s crimes but by how casually law enforcement, school officials, and even the filmmakers seemed to treat the, m. Many viewers argued that Lauryn deserved more support and that the show should have done more to portray Kendra as the predator she was.
As one parent watching the documentary put it: healthy, loving mothers do not create fake numbers to stalk and bully their children. The film missed the opportunity to condemn Kendra’s actions with the urgency they deserved.
What This Means for Parents and Teens
The Netflix Unknown Number case is not just about one family’s tragedy, it’s a wake-up call. It shows how technology can be weaponized in the most intimate of ways and how even trusted institutions can fail to protect vulnerable teens. It also highlights the importance of media responsibility: documentaries must balance storytelling with justice for victims.
Parents should take this as a reminder to stay alert to signs of digital harassment, maintain open communication with their children, and understand that emotional abuse can come from unexpected places.
FAQs About Netflix Unknown Number Documentary
- What is Netflix Unknown Number about?
It tells the true story of teenager Lauryn Licari, who was cyberbullied with thousands of cruel and sexual messages, only to later discover her mother, Kendra Licari, was behind it. - Why are people upset with the documentary?
Viewers believe Netflix allowed Kendra to manipulate the narrative and failed to provide enough focus on Lauryn’s trauma or expert commentary about the abuse. - What happened to Kendra Licari?
She pleaded guilty to stalking a minor, was sentenced to up to five years in prison, released in 2024, and is on parole until 2026. - Did law enforcement handle the case correctly?
No. Officers failed to separate Lauryn from Kendra when revealing the truth, reinforcing trauma bonding instead of protecting the victim. - Why is the film considered flawed?
It prioritized suspense and plot twists over accountability, treating Lauryn’s story like entertainment rather than addressing the gravity of the abuse.
Final Thoughts
Netflix Unknown Number had the chance to shed light on a horrifying case of parental betrayal and digital abuse. Instead, it left many viewers feeling manipulated and outraged. Lauryn deserved a documentary that truly centered her voice and highlighted the systemic failures around her. Instead, the focus shifted to the shock factor, leaving audiences with more questions than answers.
This story should serve as a reminder: abusers can hide in plain sight, and institutions must do better in protecting vulnerable victims. And as consumers, we must demand better from platforms that profit from real people’s pain.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only. It aims to analyze the cultural and media response to Netflix Unknown Number and should not be considered legal or psychological advice.
