Netflix recently released a documentary titled “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish,” following which viewers are curious to find out more about one of the victims, Owen McKenny
The series unravels a disturbing true story of cyberbullying that took place in a small Michigan town back in October 2020.
Who is Owen McKenney, ex-boyfriend of Lauryn Licari from Netflix’s Unknown Number and where is he now in 2025
Bro she acc sent this to her 13 year old daughter 😂😂 https://t.co/DYhG7MYchO pic.twitter.com/abtJx0BAGJ
— 6 🇯🇲 (@AwinoE5) September 7, 2025
The High School Catfish
Owen McKenney was one of the victims in a cyberbullying catfish incident alongside his then-girlfriend Lauryn Licari. The pair were just 13-year-olds when they started getting threatening texts from an anonymous number. After nearly two years of investigation, the results revealed a shocking truth as the harasser turned out to be Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari. The shocking revelation devastated the two families and sent waves of shock through their community. It also deeply affected the relationship that Lauryn had with her mother.
Owen McKenney biography and age
The first anonymous texts hit Ashley Licari (a pseudonym) and Owen McKenny’s phones a few weeks after they first started dating in the fall of seventh grade. The jeering messages said that Ashley wasn’t invited to an annual Halloween party. Owen showed the texts to his parents,… pic.twitter.com/i82C8HUf1r
— New York Magazine (@NYMag) September 3, 2025
Owen McKenney was one of the two victims in the High School Catfish who was just 13 years old when the harassment began. He is now 18 years old and moving forward with his life and slowly rebuilding amid the aftermath of the traumatic events. Owen was dating Lauryn Licari during the time of the cyberbullying case and their relationship became a focal point in the case.
The Netflix documentary Unknown Number shows how Lauryn Licari of Beal City, Michigan, and her then boyfriend began receiving cruel text messages from an unknown number urging them to commit suicide when they were aged 13 first in October 2020, then in September 2021.
In December 2022, her mom who used to send her the messages was charged with two counts of stalking a minor, two counts of communicating with another to commit a crime and one count of obstruction of justice.
In April 2023, Kendra Licari was sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison, with a minimum sentence of one year and seven months and was released from prison in 2024.
Education
Owen McKenney completed his schooling at Beal City High School just earlier this year in May 2025. He is now preparing for the next chapter by committing to Hope College, where he intends to continue playing baseball. Meanwhile, Lauryn has also graduated from high school and is working on reclaiming control over her life post-trauma.
Profession
Owen McKenney is currently still pursuing his education and he is an aspiring athlete beginning college-level baseball. He is currently focused on healing and building a positive future for himself and moving past the traumas from the cyberbullying case.
Aftermath and current status
UNKNOWN NUMBER details a multi-year campaign of anonymous, harassing texts, including sexual content and suicide encouragement, sent to 13-year-olds Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny in Beal City, Michigan. The FBI eventually traced the harassment to Lauryn’s mother, Kendra Licari!!… pic.twitter.com/FvSg3acWAq
— CRIMES AND LIES (@CrimesAndLies) September 5, 2025
The recently released documentary showcased the complex emotional aftermath for everyone involved, particularly for Lauryn and Owen. Following the whole experience, Lauryn now struggles with conflicted feelings toward her mother while she reconnects with her father. Owen and Lauryn chose to end their relationship before the case was resolved and sadly no longer keep in touch.
Lauryn Licari was the victim of a cyberbullying incident that started taking place when she was just 13-years-old, back in 2020. She is now 18-years-old, and is entering adulthood with the weight of a painful past on her shoulders. Despite facing all of these challenges, Lauryn is gaining control of her life and learning to balance forgiveness alongside caution in her relationship with her mother.
Her boyfriend Owen McKenney had broken up with her in the aftermath of the incident. Owen and Lauryn had first started dating in the fall of their seventh grade when they were aged 13.
ALSO READ: Who is Lauryn Licari from Netflix’s Unknown Number and where is she now in 2025
