Psychologist explains Kendra Licari crimes and fixes Unknown Number’s biggest mistake

A licensed psychologist has weighed in Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, breaking down Kendra Licari’s motives while also inadvertently fixing a misstep of the Netflix documentary. Warning: some may find this content distressing.

The new true crime doc examines a case that began in October 2020 in Beal City, Michigan, when then-13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend at the time, Owen McKenney, were targeted by an unknown cyberstalker. 

This wasn’t just a couple of texts – there were thousands, sometimes up to 30 times a day, ranging from vile insults about Lauryn’s body to sexually explicit comments and even urges to commit suicide.

The FBI were eventually called in, and all roads led to one perpetrator: Lauryn’s very own mother, Kendra Licari. The biggest question surrounding the true crime case is why Kendra did what she did, and now a psychologist has provided a clearer answer. 

Psychologist gives crucial context to Unknown Number: The High School Catfish

Licensed psychologist Dr. McKayla shared a TikTok video in which she makes it clear that Kendra Licari’s actions weren’t the result of stress or poor judgment, but a deliberate pattern of control rooted in narcissism. 

Her analysis also addresses the documentary’s biggest flaw: the absence of a psychologist to provide this very context. Viewers of Unknown Number highlighted this in the comments section, pointing out that this was especially troubling as Kendra herself appears in the documentary. 

“I think the documentary not having a psychologist’s perspective at some point was harmful and irresponsible,” said one. “They did not do a good job of countering the mother’s flawed logic for her actions.”

Another agreed, “They did not counter her once! At points in the documentary, it even felt like they were giving her a sympathy edit.”

Kendra’s motives are still speculated on by those involved in the case, with former Beal City superintendent, Bill Chillman, suggesting it could have been a digital form of Munchausen’s by proxy syndrome.

Melissa Perry, Kendra’s cousin, agrees with this in Unknown Number. However, Dr. McKayla inadvertently demonstrates how the film would have benefitted from a professional’s insights when she explains that the situation is far more complex. 

Netflix

“Munchausen  is very real, and Kendra’s behavior is a perfect example. It’s when someone fabricates illness, danger, or crisis online to gain attention or sympathy or control,” she says. 

“We’ve seen this in fake cancer stories, staged kidnappings, and parents making up elaborate medical stories about their children.

“But in Kendra’s case, this isn’t just Munchausen by internet. It’s a behavioral pattern sitting on top of a narcissistic personality structure. 

“The Munchausen is the strategy she used to get attention and manipulate people, but the narcissism is what drives it – her need for control, admiration, and power over others.”

Elaborating on why this distinction is important, Dr. McKayla explains that Kendra might try to hide behind the Munchausen label and it could potentially even soften viewers’ judgement as if “she was sick rather than deeply manipulative.” 

“That’s how personality disorders like this can fly under the radar,” she continues. “People often feel compassion for someone with Munchausen while really missing the calculated nature of the underlying narcissism.”

Both elements are at play here, but there are also “darker elements” such as the sexual undertones towards minors. Many of the messages Kendra sent to both her daughter and Owen contained sexually explicit material.

Owen and his mother Jill McKenney believe Kendra was obsessed with Owen, which Dr. McKayla also discusses: “It’s really not simple to label it one way or the other, but her behavior definitely had a clear predatory quality. 

“The way she inserted herself in Lauren’s relationship and cut Owen’s steak and gave him that attention – it shows calculated boundary violations… 

“That’s what grooming looks like. It’s quiet boundary pushing, making kids feel uncomfortable but unsure why, and testing how much control she could get.

“So this wasn’t just about controlling Lauren – it was about showing she could control the whole situation, even by crossing moral lines. And that’s why this case feels darker than just bullying or emotional abuse.”

Earlier on in the video, Dr. McKayla emphasizes the fact that this was more than just a “mom that was under stress” or “making bad choices,” but rather one with a “deep need for control.”

Lauryn was “treated like an extension of her mom’s own identity,” which is a classic trait in narcissistic parents. 

“It was all about power and ego, but not love. It was deliberate because she needed to control the story and the narrative and keep that dominance,” she says.  

“Hurting Lauryn kept her scared and dependent and easy to manipulate. So this wasn’t a mistake, it was abuse disguised as care.”

Why Lauryn Licari wanted to reconcile with Kendra

Netflix

Dr. McKayla goes on to comment on one of the “hardest things for outsiders to understand” after watching Unknown Number: The High School Catfish – why Lauryn would consider reconnecting with her mother. 

There are numerous factors at play, with the psychologist stating, “Kids are wired to protect their bond with their parents, even in abusive situations. Attachment to a parent, it’s deeply rooted in survival. 

“So Lauren isn’t weak for wanting reconciliation. She’s really trying to hold onto some version of her mom that feels safe. It’s easier to believe ‘she’s sick but she loves me’ than to accept that your parent is unsafe… It isn’t denial, it’s literally survival.”

It’s worth noting that Lauryn was only 13 years old when the texts began, and she’s only now just coming to terms with what had happened, which takes time. 

Skye Borgman, the director of the Netflix documentary, explained to Tudum that Lauryn’s perception of her mother changed over time, with the help of her close relationship with her father, Shawn Licari. 

Netflix

“The first time we sat down with Lauryn was in the spring of 2023… and she at the time loved her mom. She just wanted her mom back in her life,” the filmmaker said.

When they returned the following year, Lauryn “wanted to approach the relationship with more caution in our second interview,” having had time to process.

Dr. McKayla believes therapy could be a useful tool for both Lauryn and Owen, stating, “Therapy isn’t just about processing pain. It’s about reclaiming trust in themselves, their instincts, and the safety of connection so they can ultimately go on and live without the story controlling them for the rest of their lives.”

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is streaming on Netflix now. For more true crime news, read about if the Jussie Smollett case was a hoax, Amanda Knox’s ordeal in prison, and where the Tinder Swindler is now.