Netflix continues to expand its true-crime lineup with Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, a documentary that tells the unbelievable story of a Michigan family torn apart by an anonymous cyberstalker. What begins as a disturbing case of harassment quickly evolves into a shocking investigation that leaves viewers stunned.
Unlike scripted crime dramas, the documentary features the real people involved in the case, allowing audiences to hear firsthand accounts of the events that unfolded. Here’s a complete guide to the key participants featured in Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.
TL;DR
| Person | Role in Documentary |
|---|---|
| Lauryn Licari | Teenager at the center of the cyberbullying case |
| Kendra Licari | Lauryn’s mother, later revealed as the sender of the anonymous messages |
| Shawn Licari | Lauryn’s father |
| Owen McKenny | Lauryn’s boyfriend and fellow victim of the harassment |
| Skye Borgman | Director of the documentary |
Lauryn Licari
Lauryn Licari is one of the central figures in the documentary. As a teenager, she became the target of a relentless campaign of threatening and harassing text messages sent from an unknown number.
The messages disrupted her daily life, strained relationships, and created significant emotional stress for both her and those closest to her. Throughout the documentary, Lauryn shares her perspective on the ordeal and reflects on how the experience affected her family.
Her interviews provide an emotional foundation for the film, helping viewers understand the real-life consequences of cyberbullying and online harassment.
Kendra Licari
Kendra Licari, Lauryn’s mother, becomes the most talked-about figure in the documentary as the investigation uncovers a shocking truth.
For months, authorities attempted to identify the individual behind thousands of anonymous messages sent to Lauryn, her boyfriend, and others connected to the family. As investigators dug deeper, evidence eventually pointed toward Kendra herself.
The revelation stunned both law enforcement and members of the community. The documentary examines the investigation’s findings and explores how the case unfolded, offering viewers insight into one of the most unusual cyberstalking cases in recent memory.
Shawn Licari
Shawn Licari, Lauryn’s father and Kendra’s husband, is also featured throughout the documentary.
Shawn recounts the confusion and emotional turmoil experienced by the family as the threatening messages escalated. Like many others involved in the case, he initially had no idea who was responsible for the harassment.
His interviews provide important context about the family’s dynamics and the devastating impact the revelations ultimately had on their lives.
Owen McKenny
Owen McKenny, Lauryn’s boyfriend at the time, became another victim of the anonymous messages.
He received threatening and disturbing texts that affected both his personal life and relationship with Lauryn. Owen’s experiences illustrate how the harassment campaign extended beyond a single target and impacted multiple people connected to the family.
His testimony helps viewers understand the scope of the cyberstalking operation and the fear it created among those involved.
Law Enforcement Investigators
The documentary also includes interviews with investigators who worked on the case.
Local police officers and digital forensic experts explain how they tracked the messages, analyzed electronic evidence, and followed digital clues that eventually led them to the truth.
Their accounts reveal the challenges authorities face when investigating anonymous online activity and cybercrime cases.
Director Skye Borgman
Acclaimed true-crime filmmaker Skye Borgman directs Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.
Borgman is known for creating documentaries that focus on real-life crimes and complex human stories. In this project, she presents the facts of the case through interviews, archival materials, and investigative records, allowing viewers to piece together the events alongside those directly affected.
What Makes the Documentary So Shocking?
The documentary has generated significant discussion because of the unexpected nature of the investigation’s conclusion. What initially appears to be a typical cyberbullying case transforms into a much deeper and more disturbing story involving family relationships, deception, and digital manipulation.
By featuring interviews with the real people involved, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish offers a rare look at how online harassment can impact victims and those around them.
Final Thoughts
The cast of Unknown Number: The High School Catfish isn’t made up of actors but of the real individuals whose lives were forever changed by an extraordinary cyberstalking case. Through their personal stories, Netflix’s documentary explores themes of trust, family, technology, and accountability.
Whether you’re a fan of true-crime documentaries or interested in stories about digital investigations, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish delivers a compelling and unsettling viewing experience that is likely to stay with audiences long after the credits roll.
The documentary features interviews with members of the Licari family and people connected to the investigation, presenting the events that led to one of the most disturbing cyberstalking cases featured on Netflix.
What Is Unknown Number About?
The film follows teenager Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend, who received threatening and explicit messages from an unknown number for months. As local authorities and eventually the FBI investigated the case, the shocking truth emerged: the messages were being sent by Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari.
Quick Facts
- Title: Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
- Release Year: 2025
- Genre: True Crime Documentary
- Director: Skye Borgman
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- Streaming On: Netflix