"The events outlined in the Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The High School Catfish are undoubtedly salacious. In October 2020, Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend Owen McKenny, two teenagers in the small town of Beale City, Mich., start receiving texts from a number neither recognizes. The mysterious texter seems set on driving a wedge between the young couple-"Owen is breaking up with you; it's obvious he wants me"-and undermining the self-esteem of Lauryn, in particular. Before long, the texts become both more frequent and more threatening. They begin to include graphic sexual language, insults about Lauryn's body, and messages encouraging her to commit suicide."
"The texts also indicate the sender is someone who knows them well, referencing events at their school, outfits Lauryn was wearing, and on one occasion, including a picture taken at Owen's home. Lauryn and Owen's parents become understandably alarmed, and ask school officials to investigate. Eventually they alert the local police, but as the months go by, and the mysterious sender continues to belittle and bully Lauryn, paranoia and mistrust sets in. Various suspects are suggested, most of which appear on camera. School administrators aren't helpful, local sheriff Mike Main conducts an investigation which amounts to bringing in a bunch of teens and asking to look at their phones, which leads nowhere."
In October 2020, teenagers Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny began receiving anonymous texts from a number they did not recognize. The sender sent messages designed to sow discord, belittle Lauryn, and escalate into sexualized threats and encouragements of self-harm. The messages referenced local events and included a photo taken at Owen's home, indicating close knowledge of the teens' lives. Parents and school officials were alerted and local police investigated without success for months. The FBI eventually matched an IP address and identified the sender as Lauryn's mother, Kendra Licari. Kendra pled guilty to stalking a minor and received a prison sentence.
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