Netflix’s ‘Unknown Number’ Chronicles Michigan Mom Who Catfished Her Daughter

Imagine enduring months of harassing texts and social media messages, only to discover the person behind them was your own mother.

That’s the shocking story at the center of Netflix’s new documentary Unknown Number, which follows a Michigan teen’s ordeal at the hands of the woman who was supposed to protect her. The film dives into a disturbing web of deception, cyberbullying, and betrayal that stunned a small West Michigan community.

The Shocking Case of Kendra Licari

Unknown Number debuts August 29 on Netflix and tells the real-life story of Kendra Gail Licari, who created a false identity to bully and “catfish” her daughter for nearly two years. The Mt. Pleasant woman was charged in 2022 with two counts of stalking a minor, one count of obstruction of justice, and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

Authorities say the case unraveled after months of frustration. The victim and her boyfriend had received more than 300 pages of harassing messages from anonymous numbers and social media accounts, sparking a wide-ranging investigation in 2021. Licari even joined in the hunt for the so-called cyberbully, helping her daughter file reports and sitting in on meetings with school officials.

How Investigators Uncovered the Truth

But digital forensics eventually led investigators back to Licari herself. Court records show she had used a VPN and third-party apps in an attempt to cover her tracks, but police were able to trace the activity to her devices. The revelation stunned the small Mt. Pleasant community where Licari was a basketball coach and well-known parent.

Licari ultimately accepted a plea deal and was sentenced in 2023, closing a case that left family members and even seasoned investigators shaken.

Netflix’s Unknown Number Brings Case to Light

Now, Netflix is pulling back the curtain with Unknown Number, debuting August 29, shining a spotlight on a story as twisted as it is unthinkable.